Cablegate: Minag Delists 5 More U.S. Pork

VZCZCXYZ0003
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMO #3683 3541107
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 191107Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
TO RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC PRIORITY 5417
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1255
INFO RUEHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA 4697
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 5249

UNCLAS MOSCOW 003683

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 5 MORE U.S. PORK
FACILITIES

REF: A) MOSCOW 3559 B) MOSCOW 3473 C) MOSCOW
2769, D) MOSCOW 2949, E) MOSCOW 3181

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED

1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Russian Federal Veterinary
and Phytosanitary Surveillance Service (VPSS)
advised via official letter dated December 12,
2008(transmitted to the U.S. Embassy on December
16, 2008) that starting on January 1, 2009, an
additional 5 pork facilities will be delisted.
This action brings the total number of pork
plants delisted, as a result of the October
inspection to 19 out of 28 plants (REF A and B).
The results of one remaining pork facility are
still pending. The letter also lifts temporary
restrictions on two plants. FAS/Moscow
transmitted the original and courtesy translation
to USDA. An informal embassy translation of the
letter follows. END SUMMARY.

2.
FEDERAL VETERENARY AND
PHYTOSANITARY SURVEILLANCE SERVICE
Orlikov per., 1/11,
107139, Moscow 84,
Russian Federation
Phone: (7 499) 975-4347
Fax: (7 495) 607-5111
E-mail: info@svfk.mcx.ru
http://www.fsvps.ru

Moscow, December 12, 2008
# FS-?S-2/12725

Deputy Administrator of USDA FSIS
Mr. Ronald K. Jones

Dear Mr. Jones:

Federal Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance
Service (VPSS) extends its regards to FSIS, USDA
and informs you about the following.

VPSS experts have carried out tests of the
materials taken during audit conducted from
October 24 to 29, 2008, of the U.S. meat
processing facilities (MPF) and cold storages for
pork, that are approved for export their products
to the Russian Federation. The results of the
tests indicated that 5 facilities (# 199, 1620,
2029, 5813 and 31681) out of 10 MPF audited
during the inspection do not comply with the
Russian requirements. As a result, starting from
January 1, 2009, these facilities are delisted
from the list of approved facilities for export
of pork and raw pork products to the Russian
Federation.

Also as the result of the audit tests, VPSS lifts
temporary restrictions from facilities MPF #717M,
717CR for export meat and meat products from the
U.S to the Russian Federation.

We would like to make clear that the products
that have been produced during the period when
the restrictions were in place, are not allowed
for entry to the Russian Federation.

Dr. Jones, let me assure you of my highest
esteem,

Deputy Head A.I. Saurin

BEYRLE

© Scoop Media