U.S. to Resume Poultry Exports to Russia

WASHINGTONUnited States Trade Representative Ron Kirk and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the United States and Russia have reached an agreement to permit the resumption of U.S. poultry exports to Russia.

Once the Agreement is signed, U.S. producers will be able to resume shipments of poultry to Russia. Under the agreement, the United States will publish information on USDA's website about which disinfectants/pathogen reductions treatments are known to be approved by Russia for use on processing poultry and on food generally. The United States will provide information to Russia on the solutions that companies use on poultry shipped to Russia. In addition, the United States will give Russia an updated list of poultry processing facilities authorized to ship poultry to Russia.

"I am pleased that after several months of negotiations, we have finally reached a breakthrough which will allow for U.S. poultry exports to resume to this important market," said Ambassador Kirk. "In 2009, U.S. poultry exports to Russia were valued at $767 million. Today's agreement will not only benefit our farmers and ranchers, but it will help support agriculture jobs here at home."

"This is an important achievement for U.S. agriculture," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "Russia has long been the largest export market for U.S. poultry and regaining access to that market has been a top priority for the Obama Administration. I am pleased our countries have come to an agreement that will reopen this valuable market to U.S. producers."