Russia Reopens Trade in U.S. Beef, Expands Pork Imports
US - All Beef Of All Ages Will Be Eligible, Pending OIE Decision on U.S. Risk Assessment.
21 November 2006
1 minute read
U.S. beef has regained access to the Russian market as part of a two step process, effective immediately, pending a plant audit tour by Russian inspectors. Once the inspections have been completed, boneless and bone-in beef from animals under 30 months of age will be eligible for export. Plants already EV approved for export to Taiwan, Singapore, Egypt and Korea should automatically be eligible for Russia after they inform Agriculture Marketing Service to be placed on the Export Verification list for Russia. The requirements for all these EVs are the same.
The second step of the agreement removes all age restrictions on U.S. beef imports once the General Assembly of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) makes a decision on the U.S. risk-status with regard to BSE and classifies the U.S. as a controlled risk or negligible risk country. At that time, Russia and the United States will immediately renegotiate the export certificate consistent with the language in the bilateral agreement.
Prior to the border being closed at the end of 2003, Russia was the United States' fifth largest export market, valued at about $53 million per year.
Source: meatami.com
