December 5, 2008
Russia suspends pork exports from six US plants
Russia has suspended pork imports from six US pork companies as they allegedly did not comply with the Russian food standards.
The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) reported that the following six plants including Sioux Preme Pork Products, Sioux City; Iowa Smithfield Packing Co.; Smithfield, Vancouver; Chicago Meat Authority, Chicago, Illinois; Farmington Foods, Forest Park, Illinois; Amity Packing Co., Chicago, Illinois; Abilene TX Foods, Jeffersontown, Kentucky will not be allowed to ship pork to Russia.
Russian authorities have not explained their rationale for taking this latest action.
"They stated in a letter that the plants did not meet Russian requirements, but did not provide additional details," FSIS spokeswoman Amanda Eamich told the agency.
