Russia Restricts Pork Imports from Two U.S. Plants
By Pork news source
| Friday, July 23, 2010
Only months after relisting Smithfield Foods’ Tar Heel, N.C., and Clinton, N.C. plants, Russia has temporarily restricted imports of pork from the two plants for yet unknown reasons, according to Meatingplace.com. The two Smithfield facilities will be ineligible for export effective Aug. 2. Certificates for exports can be signed through Aug. 1.
The cause of Russia’s action is still unclear, as is the status of the plants.
“USDA and USMEF are working to determine the reason so that we can work to remove the restriction,” said Courtney Heller, manager of export services for the U.S. Meat Export Federation.
Both Smithfield plants had been re-listed as eligible exporters to Russia in March. The two facilities had been among a long list of U.S. pork exporters banned by Russia based on what that country said were protocol violations discovered during a previous industry-wide audit.
Source: Meatingplace.com
