Sanderson Farms ready to ship chicken to Russia
U.S. chicken producer Sanderson Farms Inc said it expected the U.S. Agriculture Department to post later on Tuesday the requirements needed to resume U.S. chicken shipments to Russia.
"Our understanding is the export library will be updated today. As soon as it is we are going to begin packing product," said Mike Cockrell, Sanderson Farms' chief financial officer.
The export library lists the requirements for shipping products to foreign buyers.
Russia agreed last week to accept U.S. chicken treated with monochloride rinses. Russia, once the top buyer of U.S. chicken, has banned the meat since January because of a chlorine rinse used by U.S. meat companies.
Sanderson has two plants using an approved non-chlorine rinse and are prepared to ship chicken to Russia.
USDA was less clear on the timing of the new rules.
"We expect the agreement to be signed very soon. Our implementation of the agreement requires the Food Safety and Inspection Service to update the list of U.S. establishments certified to export poultry to Russia and provide that information to the Russian side," an USDA spokeswoman said in an email.
"FSIS also needs to add information to its website and provide instructions and forms to its inspectors. We would expect exports to resume after the agreement is signed," she said.
On Monday, a Russian official said it may be 1-1/2 to two months before U.S. chicken returns to the Russian market.
Because of time needed for packaging and loading, U.S. sources said on Tuesday, it may take that long for product to reach Russia, even if work began immediately.
"Our understanding is the export library will be updated today. As soon as it is we are going to begin packing product," said Mike Cockrell, Sanderson Farms' chief financial officer.
The export library lists the requirements for shipping products to foreign buyers.
Russia agreed last week to accept U.S. chicken treated with monochloride rinses. Russia, once the top buyer of U.S. chicken, has banned the meat since January because of a chlorine rinse used by U.S. meat companies.
Sanderson has two plants using an approved non-chlorine rinse and are prepared to ship chicken to Russia.
USDA was less clear on the timing of the new rules.
"We expect the agreement to be signed very soon. Our implementation of the agreement requires the Food Safety and Inspection Service to update the list of U.S. establishments certified to export poultry to Russia and provide that information to the Russian side," an USDA spokeswoman said in an email.
"FSIS also needs to add information to its website and provide instructions and forms to its inspectors. We would expect exports to resume after the agreement is signed," she said.
On Monday, a Russian official said it may be 1-1/2 to two months before U.S. chicken returns to the Russian market.
Because of time needed for packaging and loading, U.S. sources said on Tuesday, it may take that long for product to reach Russia, even if work began immediately.