Russia Approves More than 100 US Plants
RUSSIA - The authorities report that 108 US poultry plants have already been authorised to export chicken to Russia.Poultry meat of those American companies that pass tests of the Federal Veterinary And Phytosanitary Monitoring Service (Rosselkhoznadzor) will be allowed for import to Russia, RF chief sanitary doctor Gennady Onishchenko said at a press conference at Itar-Tass.
Mr Onishchenko said: "Those enterprises that had problems with this will not be admitted to Russia. This is for sure."
Earlier, the Russian side made claims to the US meat exported to Russia because it was treated with chlorine, which is prohibited in Russia.
"Our poultry meat has never been treated with chlorine," Russia's chief sanitary doctor specified. He also stressed: "American suppliers refused to comply with Rosselkhoznadzor's demands."
According to Mr Onishchenko, during President Dmitry Medvedev's official visit to the United States, the two countries' presidents agreed that the US poultry meat exported from the US to Russia "will meet Russian requirements for the supply of such products."
He added: "We exchanged letters. The US deputy secretary of agriculture and US trade representative sent a letter to me."
"After that, according to the agreements, the list of enterprises – poultry meat exporters from the United States was presented. At first, there were 27 enterprises on the list, then 40, and now already 108."