Source:  Tom Johnston, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 11/3/10

Russia will ban the sale of frozen poultry starting Jan. 1, 2011, according to a report by RIA Novosti quoting Gennady Onishchenko, head of the country’s Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Welfare.

“The transition to chilled poultry was approved in March 2008. There will be no turnover of frozen poultry in Russia from Jan. 1, 2011. It is an outdated and rough technology, which leads to a loss of many of the useful qualities of meat,” Onishchenko was quoted as saying.

U.S. poultry exporters can continue to ship chilled product, he was quoted as saying.
Sergei Yushin, head of an executive committee at Russia’s National Meat Association, disagreed with the decision. “Such a prohibition exists nowhere in the world,” he was quoted as saying. 'How does this decision fit the statement that Russia wants to harmonize requirements with international norms and the policy of attracting investment?”

Onishchenko’s comments confirm a statement a USDA official said last week at an industry conference. 

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