Shares of leading U.S. meat companies, including Tyson Foods and Pilgrim's Pride, fell back on the news.

Russia said last week that it would not import product from some U.S. chicken and pork plants following inspections of those facilities this summer.

Analysts expect the bans to be temporary. The USDA has the authority to approve the facilities once Russia's concerns are addressed, it said.

"It is not a big deal unless it gets bigger," economist Paul Aho said of Russia's ban on the chicken plants. Chicken companies could continue to ship poultry from other plants that are approved for Russia, which is the largest overseas buyer of U.S. chicken, he said.

Source: TheMoscowTimes