VZCZCXYZ0026
PP RUEHWEB
DE RUEHMO #3559 3441230
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 091230Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
TO RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC PRIORITY 5415
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1059
INFO RUEHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA 4696
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 5248
UNCLAS MOSCOW 003559
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
USDA FAS FOR OCRA/KUYPERS; OSTA/HAMILTON, BEAN
PASS FSIS/HARRIES, DUTROW
PASS APHIS MITCHELL
STATE FOR EUR/RUS,
STATE PASS USTR FOR CHATTIN, HAFNER, KLEIN
BRUSSELS PASS APHIS/FERNANDEZ
VIENNA PASS APHIS/TANAKA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ETRD ECON WTO RS
SUBJECT: MINAG DELISTS 7 MORE U.S. PORK
FACILITIES
REF: A) MOSCOW 3473 B) MOSCOW 2769, C) MOSCOW
2949, D) MOSCOW 3181
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Russian Federal Veterinary
and Phytosanitary Surveillance Service (VPSS)
advised via official letter dated December 5,
2008, that it had delisted an additional 7 out of
9 pork facilities that were recently inspected as
part of a joint audit. These results immediately
follow the findings of November 27, 2008, in
which VPPS also delisted 7 out of 9 pork plants
(REF A). The results of the remaining 11 pork
facilities which were audited are still pending.
Mirroring the November 27th letter, VPSS vowed
that it will intensify border control on all pork
products from the two establishments which were
not delisted. FAS Moscow received the VPSS
letter on December 9, 2008, and transmitted it
plus a courtesy translation to USDA headquarters
on the same day. END SUMMARY.
2. Begin Text
Moscow, December 05, 2008
No. FS-NV-2/12451
Acting Assistant Administrator
Office of International Affairs
USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)
Dr. Ronald K. Jones
Dear Dr. Jones,
The Federal Veterinary and Phytosanitary
Surveillance Service (VPSS) extends its regards
to the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS),
USDA and, in addition to the letter #FS-NV-
2/12067 of November 27, 2008, informs you of the
following:
VPSSQ specialists completed analysis of the
results of the audit of U.S. pork establishments
that was conducted in the period from October 20
until October 23, 2008. The results showed that 7
establishments (# 3W, 687, 244 I, 6835, 20239,
21898, and 31965) did not comply with the Russian
requirements among 9 establishments inspected
during that period. Therefore, the mentioned
establishments are excluded from the list of U.S.
establishments approved for the export of pork
and pork by-products to the Russian Federation
starting December 20, 2008.
We also inform you that VPSS will intensify
control on the products from establishments #
3648 and #21059 in which the inspectors revealed
insignificant violations of the Russian
veterinary-sanitary requirements and norms.
Dr. Jones, let me assure you of my highest
esteem.
Deputy Head
N.A. Vlasov
END TEXT
BEYRLE