Thailand, a major chicken exporter in Southeast Asia, is prepared to supply poultry to Russia to compensate for US imports that fail to comply with Russian standards, Russia's agricultural regulator said on 20 January, reports RIA Novosti.

Sergei Dankvert, head of Russia's farm watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor, held talks on the same day with Thai Charge d'Affaires in Russia, Sompong Sanguabun, to discuss poultry supplies.

On its web site, Rosselkhoznadzor said: "The Thai side said it was sincerely interested in starting large-scale poultry supplies to the Russian market and guaranteed strict compliance with Russian veterinary and sanitary standards."

Russia imposed a ban on the import and sale of chlorine-treated poultry as of 1 January, citing new safety requirements. The change in regulations primarily affects US imports, and Washington said it would damage its poultry industry and push prices up for Russian consumers.

Russia's quota for the United States this year is 600,000 metric tons of poultry. Imports from the United States, the world's largest poultry producer and exporter, accounted for some 22%, or 750,000 tons, of poultry consumed in Russia last year.

According to RIA Novosti, Russian producers and public have long been speculating over the possible dangers of the US product, citing excessive levels of hormones, antibiotics, chlorine and other chemicals.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said last week that if US producers were unwilling or unable to meet Russian health requirements, the country would find new suppliers and further develop the domestic poultry sector.

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