RUSSIA EASES RESTRICTIONS ON U.S. MEAT

UNCLAS MOSCOW 001161 SENSITIVE SIPDIS USDA FAS FOR OCRA/KUYPERS, RIKER; OSTA/BEAN, HAMILTON, HAXTON; ONA/TING, SALLYARDS PASS FSIS DUTROW, HARRIES PASS APHIS BURLESON STATE FOR EUR/RUS STATE PASS USTR FOR CHATTIN, HAFNER, MURPHY BRUSSELS PASS APHIS/FERNANDEZ VIENNA PASS APHIS/MITCHELL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAGR ETRD ECON WTO RS SUBJECT: RUSSIA EASES RESTRICTIONS ON U.S. MEAT AND POULTRY REF: A) MOSCOW 1150, B) HANSEN/MITCHELL EMAIL 05/05/09 SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Russian Federal Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance Service (VPSS) advised via official letter that restrictions placed on all pork and pork products from 10 U.S. states, using influenza A H1N1 as justification, have been lifted effective immediately (REF A). As of today, California, New York, Texas, South Carolina and (most recently) Delaware are restricted from exporting all types of fresh/frozen meat and poultry products to Russia. In addition, temporarily restricts are still in place on all fresh/frozen pork and pork products from Arizona and Massachusetts. The original scanned copy of the letter and courtesy translation were sent to FAS/APHIS on May 5, 2009 (REF B). An informal embassy translation of the letter follows. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) BEGIN TEXT: Moscow, May 5, 2009 FS-NV-2/4231 Regional Director USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) In the European Union Mr. Jay Mitchell Due to the improving epizootic/epidemiological situation in some U.S. states, VPSS has lifted all restrictions on meat products from Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Nevada, and Ohio. Effective immediately, all meat and poultry products are allowed for export from these states without restrictions related to the spread of A/H1N1/California/04/2009 influenza. The situation in the states Arizona and South Carolina is still not clear enough for us to remove restrictions. Questions about their status will be resolved soon as relevant information continues to be provided to my office by USDA. The situation regarding the spread of A/H1N1/California/04/2009 influenza is changing quickly. During the last few days, temporary restrictions were imposed on meat and/or poultry products from the several U.S. states for export to Russia. Restrictions on some of these states have already been lifted while new ones have been placed. Therefore, in order to simplify the work of officials and legal entities of the United States and Russia, and with approval from the AGR office of the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, we send to you a spreadsheet that reflects the current status regarding prohibitions imposed in relation to the spread of the virus (not included in cable). We remind you that states in Zone 1 (currently California, New York, Texas, Delaware and South Carolina) are prohibited from exporting all types of fresh/frozen meat and poultry products as well as from exporting all processed meat and poultry products that have not been heat-treated at a minimum temperature of 80 degrees Celsius during not less then 30 minutes. The states in Zone 2 (currently Arizona and Massachusetts) are prohibited from exporting all fresh and frozen pork and pork products as well as all processed pork products that have not been heat-treated at a minimum temperature of 80 degrees Celsius for at least 30 minutes. No restrictions related to spreading the A/H1N1/California/04/2009 influenza are imposed on the states located in Zone 3. All meat and poultry products from unrestricted states can transit via Zones 1 and 2 for loading at ports. Cold storages in Zones 1 and 2 can also be used as long as the meat and poultry came from non-restricted states. Mr. Mitchell, let me assure you of my highest esteem. N.A. Vlasov Deputy Head END TEXT. ¶3. (SBU) VPSS has begun easing trade restrictions on U.S. meat and poultry exports thanks, in large part, to the frequent updates provided by USDA Washington. Other countries are not so lucky. Russia announced recently that all pork and pork products (as well as live pigs) have been restricted from Spain, Great Britain and several provinces in Canada. In addition, VPSS restricted all meat and poultry products from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Nicaragua, Panama, and El Salvador as of April 26. VPSS officials have stated that more bans were possible and that they could be applied to entire countries or regions, depending on the velocity with which they divulge information about the discovery and the spread of the virus. RUBIN