Source:  Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 6/1/10

China has lifted its ban on imports from Smithfield's Tar Heel, N.C., plant for products packed on or after May 17, 2010, according to USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service.

The change was noted on the FSIS Web site.

Last August, China suspended imports from five U.S. pork and poultry plants, including Smithfield's Tar Heel plant, for what it said were "multiple detections" of "chemical drug residues and epidemic pathogens."
Import bans on 10 plants owned by other processors remain in place for various reasons.

Pork casings

In the same FSIS notice, the agency noted pork and pork products, including natural casings, with pack dates on or after March 24, 2010, are also eligible for export to China.

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