American poultry producers are stepping up efforts to return their products to the Russian market as they prepare for a fresh round of poultry talks due in Moscow early next week. Earlier, Russia banned all U.S. poultry imports over non-compliance with new food safety requirements introduced by the Consumer Rights Protection Service, Rospotrebnadzor, as of January 1, 2010. The new norms require that all poultry intended for sale in Russia must be treated with water solutions in which the amount of chlorine does not exceed tap water standards. The amount of waste liquid after defreezing must stand below 4% of the product's initial weight.
The new norms do not affect domestic producers which almost never use chlorine. But in the United States, a chlorine solution is the main poultry treatment technology. As a result, every fifth American broiler chicken remains unsold. The losses sustained by farmers and fears of losing a significant poultry market have prompted the U.S. authorities to address the issue more seriously after failed attempts to politicize the dispute which Washington said had been unleashed by Russia on purpose to bargain more favorable conditions for its accession to the World Trade Organization or even for a new strategic arms reduction treaty. Konstantin Kosachyov, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Relations, brushed away these arguments as ridiculous. In a Voice of Russia interview, he said Moscow had no intention of mixing up political aspects of bilateral relations with food safety.
"The government's decision has nothing to do with protectionism or discrimination against American producers. This is about sorting out the mess on the market by imposing normal and reasonable demands to good quality. Russia was deprived of this opportunity before, when it depended on poultry imports to fill its empty market. Now the situation is cardinally different. As regards meat and poultry production, Russia is becoming more self-sufficient and can tighten food quality requirements. Unless Americans accept them, they risk losing competition".
After several rounds of talks, the Americans have signaled readiness to yield to the Russian demands. Now they will probably ask for some more time to readjust production. Much will depend on how much time they actually want. With poultry producers in Europe, Argentina, Brazil, Israel and Thailand keen to bring their products to the Russian market, time is working against American importers.
Please rate: