November 28, 2005

US may allow entry of Chinese poultry products

The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is proposing to add China to the list of countries eligible to export processed poultry and poultry products to the US, according to a notice on its website.

Reviews of the China's laws, regulations and other materials show China's poultry-processing system includes requirements equivalent to all provisions in the Poultry Products Inspection Act and its implementing regulations, the notice said.

The FSIS is proposing to allow processed Chinese poultry products to be imported into the US only if the product comes from poultry that is slaughtered in certified plants in other countries, the notice said.

China currently is not eligible to export to the US poultry products that include birds that were slaughtered in China's domestic establishments, the FSIS said. Under this proposed rule, all poultry products exported from China to the US will be subject to re-inspection at the US ports of entry by FSIS inspectors as required by law.

Comments must be received on or before Jan 23, the release said.