Russian authorities may reduce quotas on US poultry imports due to failure by the United States to meet sanitary requirements, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said at his annual address to the lower house of the Russian parliament.

RIA Novosti reports Mr Putin saying: "Three or four years ago, Russia imported 1.3 million tons of poultry from the United States alone. In 2010, the quota is 600,000 tons; it should be further reduced because chlorine requirements have not been met."

Imports from the United States, the world's largest poultry producer and exporter, accounted for some 750,000 metric tons (22 per cent) of poultry consumed in Russia last year. This year, a quota on poultry imports has been set as Russia seeks to boost domestic poultry production.

Russia banned imports of US chlorine-treated poultry from 1 January this year, citing new safety requirements. Washington says the move will damage the American poultry industry and push prices up for Russian consumers.

In late January, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said: "Technologically, American poultry producers are prepared to observe the [new Russian] standards," which correspond with European regulations.

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