"Exports are extremely important to the US pork industry," Vilsack said. "Reopening the market with Russia – our fifth largest market last year – is excellent news for American hog producers."
The US exported nearly 20% of its pork production in 2009. Russia imported $257 million worth – 6% – of US pork and pork variety meat exports last year.
December 2009
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Office of the US Trade Representative have been in negotiations with the Russian Veterinary Service since December 2009 when Russia notified USDA of its intent to restrict pork shipments from 13 US pork plants, which accounted for more than 90% of US pork exports to Russia. These negotiations led to the development of a new veterinary certificate to ensure that pork exports from the United States meet specific Russian microbiological and tetracycline-group antibiotic residue requirements.
The next step is for US plants that want to export to Russia to apply for approval with the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). AMS, in collaboration with the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), has developed an Export Verification (EV) programme for pork to Russia to address specific product requirements.
Export verification programmes
Export Verification programmes are designed to facilitate the marketing and the export of US products. Companies wishing to participate in USDA's EV Programs must meet the specified product requirements through a USDA Quality System Assessment (QSA) Program.
The QSA Program ensures that the specified product requirements are supported by a documented quality management system. Products produced under an approved EV Program are eligible to be issued an FSIS Export certificate. AMS is expected to approve the first plants as early as next week. FSIS will then provide Russian authorities with a list of approved US pork facilities.
A US delegation led by Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services James Miller and Assistant US Trade Representative for Agricultural Affairs Jim Murphy has been meeting with Russian officials in Moscow since Monday to discuss trade issues related to pork and poultry. Talks on poultry have been constructive and technical discussions will continue in the coming weeks.
Related news item:
• NPPC happy to see Russian market open for pork
