RUSSIAN VET SERVICE DELISTS ANOTHER U.S.

UNCLAS MOSCOW 003203 SENSITIVE SIPDIS USDA FAS FOR OCRA/KUYPERS; OSTA/HAMILTON, BEAN PASS FSIS/JONES, DUTROW PASS APHIS/MITCHELL STATE FOR EUR/RUS, EB/ATP/SINGER STATE PASS USTR FOR PORTER BRUSSELS PASS APHIS/FERNANDEZ VIENNA PASS APHIS/TANAKA GENEVA FOR USTR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAGR ETRD TBIO WTO RS SUBJECT: RUSSIAN VET SERVICE DELISTS ANOTHER U.S. POULTRY PLANT REF: A) HANSEN/DUTROW EMAIL 10/29/08, B) MOSCOW 3181, C) MOSCOW 2946, D) MOSCOW 2235 SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Russian Federal Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance Service (VPSS) informed via official letter that as of October 28, that another U.S. poultry plant (P-7927) was delisted after routine tests revealed the presence of Salmonella. The letter requests that the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) conduct an investigation into how this foodborne pathogen found its way into poultry shipments to Russia. The original scanned copy of the VPSS letter and courtesy translation were sent to FSIS on October 29, 2008 (REF A). An informal embassy translation of the letter follows. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) BEGIN TEXT: Moscow, October 28, 2008 No. FS-NV-2/10941 Assistant Deputy Administrator USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) Dr. William James The Federal Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance Service (VPSS) extends its regards to the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and informs you of the following: Salmonella was detected recently during routine testing of residues of prohibited and harmful substances in poultry shipments (chicken quarters) imported from the United States (lab test results No. 7905/B-5933 of September 25, 2008; No. 8556/B-6552, 8554/B-6550, 8555/B-6551 of October 13, 2008). The product was manufactured at establishment No. P-7927 (veterinary certificates No. RFA-039425, RFA- 039424, RFA-039423 of April 16, 2008). Coccidiostat salinomycin was also detected in poultry shipments from U.S. establishment No. P- 758 (lab test results No. 1652 of October 8, 2008; veterinary certificate No. RFA-049572 of August 21, 2008). Antibiotics of tetracycline group were found in the shipments of poultry that were produced at the U.S. establishment No. P-1309 (lab results No. 478M, 480M of September 22, 2008). The poultry was imported to the Russian Federation with veterinary certificates No. RFA-027512, RFA- 027514, RFA-027516 of August 1, 2008. The cases mentioned above are violations of the requirements set forth in the negotiated veterinary certificate for export of poultry to the Russian Federation. Therefore, VPSS informs you that temporary restrictions on the import of products from above-mentioned establishments come into force on October 28, 2008. In addition, VPSS requests that you conduct an investigation to determine why illegal substances are being found in veterinary products shipped from the United States to Russia. VPSS asks you to take urgent measures to prevent the shipment of meat and poultry products to Russia that do not fully comply with the requirements of the Russian Federation and the negotiated veterinary certificates. Please inform VPSS about the results of investigation and the preventative measures FSIS will take to stop these types of occurrences from taking place in the future. Dr. James, let me assure you in my highest esteem. N.A. Vlasov Acting Head Attachment: on 15 pages (not included in this telegram) END TEXT. ¶3. (SBU) COMMENT: Russia currently has a zero- tolerance policy for foodborne pathogens, such as Salmonella. To date, Russia has not offered any scientific basis for such an unreasonably strict regime, which is not consistent with international sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) norms. Although Russia has agreed to abide by international SPS standards as of the date of WTO accession, or to provide a scientific basis to justify stricter standards during regular engagements and consultations, we recommend that USDA and USTR officials continue to urge Russian negotiators to immediately adopt international SPS standards at upcoming meetings in Geneva and Washington, DC. No less should be accepted of an aspiring WTO member. BEYRLE