Russia's agricultural regulator Rosselkhoznadzor plans to hold talks on poultry deliveries with U.S. representatives Thursday, the watchdog spokesman said Wednesday.
"Rosselkhoznadzor talks will be held January 21," Alexei Alexeyenko said. Consumer rights watchdog Rospotrebnadzor held closed talks on the issue with Americans January 19-20.
Russia imposed a ban on the import and sale of chlorine-treated poultry as of January 1, citing new safety requirements. The change in regulations primarily affects U.S. imports, and Washington said it would damage its poultry industry and push prices up for Russian consumers.
Russia's quota for the United States this year is 600,000 metric tons of poultry. Imports from the United States, the world's largest poultry producer and exporter, accounted for some 22%, or 750,000 tons, of poultry consumed in Russia last year.
Russian producers and public have long been speculating over the possible dangers of the U.S. product, citing excessive levels of hormones, antibiotics, chlorine and other chemicals.
A U.S. expert said the United States has its own strict poultry quality requirements and should it agree to Russian demands, it would no longer fall in line with its own sanitary requirements. Another American expert said it is more important for the U.S. to follow its own regulations than Russian ones not to lose its domestic market. He added that high content of chlorine is banned in Europe as a preventive measure while its risk has not been proven.
U.S. ambassador in Russia John Beyrle told the Ekho Moskvy radio Wednesday that he was convinced U.S. poultry and other products were safe. He said he buys U.S. food products in Moscow himself and gives them to his daughter and added that he wouldn't do that if there was any danger.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said last week that if U.S. producers were unwilling or unable to meet Russian health requirements, the country would find new suppliers and further develop the domestic poultry sector.
Rosselkhoznadzor said Wednesday that Thailand, a major chicken exporter in Southeast Asia, is prepared to supply poultry to Russia to compensate for U.S. imports that fail to comply with Russian standards.
Respected Russian business daily Kommersant said Wednesday the U.S. may be allowed to continue poultry exports to Russia, but will have to review its chlorine treatment technologies in two or three months.
The supplies will continue under the previously established quota during a so-called transition period to switch to new chlorine-free poultry treatment technologies, it said, citing a source close to the talks.
The president of Russia's Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs said Tuesday Russian-U.S. talks on safety standards for American poultry imports may last until the end of the year.
MOSCOW, January 21 (RIA Novosti)
