CHICAGO — Russia, once the largest importer of U.S. chicken, has lifted a seven-month ban on the meat, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said Friday.
U.S. poultry processors may begin submitting new applications to export meat to Russia, the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service said. Russia blocked the meat in January by slashing the allowable amount of chlorine U.S. processors could use as a disinfectant.
Russia has agreed to import poultry meat disinfected with hydrogen peroxide, cetylpyridinium chloride or peroxyacetic acid, instead of chlorine, which remains banned, the USDA said.
Russia spent $767 million on U.S. poultry in 2009, according to a joint statement last week from the USDA and U.S. Trade Representative. U.S. exports of chicken to Russia plunged 84 percent in the four months ended April 30 from a year earlier, and there were no shipments in March or April, according to the most-recent USDA data.
U.S. President Barack Obama said June 24, after a meeting on trade issues with President Dmitry Medvedev in Washington, that Russia had agreed to lift the ban.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.