020535 Russian Denies Barriers to U.S. Poultry ImportsMay 18, 2002Moscow - Russian Agriculture Minister Alexei Gordeyev denied that bureaucratic barriers were stalling the resumption of U.S. poultry imports to Russia. "Russia has done everything in its power to resolve this problem and to bring the situation on the poultry market back to normal," he told Interfax news agency. On Wednesday, a top State Department official complained that barriers remained in place and urged Moscow to lift lingering restrictions on American chicken before U.S. President George W. Bush's visit next week. Alan P. Larson, undersecretary for economic affairs, said in Moscow that some "immediate progress" was needed. The issue has already generated tension between Washington and Moscow, amid what are otherwise significantly warmer relations. Russia's Agriculture Ministry lifted a month-old ban on American chicken on April 15 after U.S. officials promised tighter controls over exports, but immediately canceled all previous import permits and required Russian companies to reapply for new ones. The ban had been imposed amid Russian concerns about sanitary conditions at U.S. poultry plants. U.S. officials have since complained that Russia has dragged its feet in accepting the imports again. "I absolutely disagree," Gordeyev told Interfax. "We act in strict compliance with the law and do not require anything extraordinary." He said that Russia's veterinary service had already issued permission for more than 100,000 metric tons (110,000 short tons) of U.S. poultry imports. But he said that two shiploads of U.S. poultry that have been stranded in St. Petersburg's port for more than a month failed to pass veterinary requirements, according to Interfax. Russia has set up a special commission at the request of the United States to find a solution to the problem, he said, according to Interfax. Chicken exports to Russia bring $600 million to $700 million a year to producers in 38 U.S. states.
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