RUSSIA MAINTAINS RESTRICTIONS ON U.S.

UNCLAS MOSCOW 001187 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 MAINTAINS RESTRICTIONS ON U.S. MEAT AND POULTRY REF: A) HANSEN/MITCHELL EMAIL 05/07/09, B) MOSCOW 1161, C) MOSCOW 1150 SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Russian Federal Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance Service (VPSS) advised via official letter that restrictions placed on meat and poultry products from 8 U.S. states are in place. As of today, California, New York, Texas, South Carolina, Delaware and (most recently) Illinois 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, Massachusetts and South Carolina. The original scanned copy of the letter and courtesy translation were sent to FAS/APHIS on May 7, 2009 (REF A). An informal embassy translation of the letter follows. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) BEGIN TEXT: Moscow, May 6, 2009 FS-NV-2/4294 Regional Director USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) In the European Union Mr. Jay Mitchell The Federal Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance Service (VPSS) extends its regards to USDA/APHIS and informs you of the following: Due to new information on the epizootic/ epidemiological situation in the United States regarding the spread of Influenza A H1N1 California/04/2009, VPSS is forced to restrict imports of all types of fresh/frozen meat and poultry, as well as all processed meat and poultry products that have not been heat-treated at a minimum temperature of 80 degrees Celsius for at least 30 minutes, from Illinois that are manufactured and packaged after May 6, 2009. This means that Illinois is now in the Zone 1 risk level group. As of May 6, 2009, South Carolina has been downgraded to the Zone 2 risk group. Therefore, the restrictions to South Carolina are limited to the export of live pigs, fresh and frozen pork and pork products, and processed pork products that have not been heat-treated at a minimum temperature of 80 degrees Celsius for at least 30 minutes, from this state to the Russian Federation. The prohibition covers pork products manufactured and packaged after May 6, 2009. Mr. Mitchell, let me assure you of my highest esteem. N.A. Vlasov Deputy Head END TEXT. RUBIN