MINAG DELISTS 7 MORE U.S. PORK

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