Russia Demands US Exporters Alter Processing Methods
GLOBAL - Russian authorities will not accept poultry meat from the US that has been disinfected with chlorine.Russia's chief sanitary doctor said on 8 September that US poultry manufacturers should alter their production technology if they want to export to Russia, according to RIA Novosti.
Russia's ban on poultry imports from 19 US producers came into force on September 1.
Agricultural regulator Rosselkhoznadzor said the companies' products failed to meet the required sanitary standards.
"We have banned poultry produced using the outdated technology of disinfection with chlorine. Such technology is used only at the oldest factories in Russia, while Americans use it at advanced farms," Gennady Onishchenko said.
The health official said Russia produces 1.8 million metric tons of poultry annually and imports another 1.2 million tons. The United States accounts for 870,000 metric tons of Russian poultry imports each year.
"We do not boycott. Change your technology and export," Mr Onishchenko advised.
He also warned Washington against pointing to agreements within the World Trade Organization, since Russia has not yet entered the global trade body.
Russia's ban on US poultry has already sparked alarm in Washington amid rising tensions over the recent Georgia conflict.
Further Reading
- | Go to our previous news item on this story by clicking here. |