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