February 10, 2004

Russia Bans US Poultry Imports On Bird Flu Fears

Russia slapped a temporary ban on the import of most poultry products from Delaware Monday following the discovery of avian flu on a farm in the eastern U.S. state.

The ban applies to live birds, incubated eggs, and all poultry products that haven't undergone thermal treatment, as well as feed and feed additives, Russia's Veterinary Service said. It said bans on poultry from nearby states would be considered if bird flu is found outside the infected site.

Russia, the single largest foreign market for U.S. poultry, agreed last autumn to ease import quotas on U.S. chicken, pork and beef. In 2002, Russian inspectors had found a dozen U.S. poultry plants in violation of their food safety standards and refused to accept products from them.

Russia's import cap on poultry this year is 1.05 million metric tons, of which about 772,000 tons is to come from the U.S.