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