Source:  Tom Johnston, MEATINGPLACE.COM 8/27/10

Russia has re-listed another four U.S. poultry plants as eligible exporters, leaving just five processing plants to be reauthorized, according to a report by RIA Novosti citing food safety agency Rosselkhoznadzor.

Getting the nod, according to USDA, were Sanderson Farms (Laurel, Miss.), Tyson Foods (Springdale, Ark.), Peco Foods (Bay Springs, Miss.) and Pilgrim's Pride (Russellville, Ala.)

All but five of 27 U.S. poultry processing plants are now approved to export to Russia, RIA Novosti reported. Earlier this month Russia cleared 68 U.S. establishments, but 60 of those were cold storage facilities. At that time, 19 of 27 processing plants were still barred, the report states.

The latest round of approvals come amid Russia’s angst over a U.S. egg recall related to a salmonella outbreak, and the U.S. industry’s assurances that its poultry products are safe.

On Jan. 1, Russia banned imports of poultry treated with chlorine rinse, effectively stopping U.S. poultry exports dead in their tracks. The two sides reached a new export agreement in July.

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