Source:  Tom Johnston, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 12/21/10

Three major U.S. pork-packing plants will begin 2011 without access to Russia as an export market.
Effective Dec. 31, 2010, Smithfield Foods’ Smithfield, Va., plant, Tyson Foods’ Waterloo, Iowa, plant and Farmland Foods’ Monmouth, Ill., plant are ineligible to ship pork to Russia, according to USDA’s Food Service and Inspection Service website.

A government source said Russia is citing “residue and pathogen issues.”

FSIS can sign export certificates for pork originating from these facilities through Dec. 30. Russia will accept product loaded prior to Dec. 31.

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