20 May 2004 06:54
Russian vets to inspect potential U.S. poultry exporters
MOSCOW. May 20 (Interfax) - Russian veterinary specialists are due to go to the United States next month to inspect
the slaughtering and processing facilities of companies seeking permission to export poultry to Russia.
The visit is based on an agreement reached in a telephone conversation between Russian Agriculture Minister Alexei
Gordeyev and U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman, Gordeyev told Interfax.
The specialists will visit "enterprises that, because of failure to meet Russian veterinary requirements, were
not allowed to export poultry to the Russian Federation after inspections carried out by Russian specialists last
year," Gordeyev said.
The Agriculture Ministry says its veterinary specialists checked 341 U.S. enterprises in 2003, and Russia agreed to
buy poultry from 266 of them.
Russia is making its inspections under agreements reached in 2002 with the United States.
Gordeyev said they also discussed a Russian ban, imposed in December 2003, on imports of live cattle, beef, and all
kinds of beef products from the United States following cases of mad cow disease in that country.
"Russia will strictly comply with the requirements of the International Epizootic Bureau in dealing with this
problem," Gordeyev said. [RU EUROPE EEU EMRG LIV TRD HEA US] as tl <>
[Interfax] |
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