U.S. meat exporters pledge to certify 'ractopamine-free' products.
Officials with Russia's Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance say they have reached agreements with some U.S. producers of pork and turkey to supply the Russian market with products that have been produced without the use of the feed additive ractopamine. The agreement will allow limited U.S. meat exports to Russia to be restored and the country's pervious ban to be partially lifted.Imports of pork from both the United States and Brazil will resume in the coming weeks from pre-approved suppliers that have guaranteed that ractopamine, a feed additive used to promote growth and leanness, has not been used, said Sergey Dankvert, the head of the Russian agency.
Turkey imports from pre-approved U.S. producers were resumed Feb. 24 from two suppliers, and a third will be included if the Customs Union, an economic bloc of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, approves the measure, Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance officials said.
Russia banned imports of pork and turkey from the United States in February 2013, and pork from Brazil in December 2012, saying it detected traces of ractopamine. Russian authorities have said that research concludes that small amounts of the substance can increase the risk of heart disease. U.S. authorities disagree, arguing that small amounts of ractopamine are safe.
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| Publication: | The Food & Fiber Letter |
|---|---|
| Geographic Code: | 4EXRU |
| Date: | Mar 3, 2014 |
| Words: | 215 |
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