Source: Tom Johnston, MEATINGPLACE, 9/30/11

Russia has re-listed Smithfield Foods Inc.’s Tar Heel, N.C., pork plant as an eligible exporter to that country.

USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service said this week that product produced at the world’s largest pork plant on or after Sept. 12 can be shipped to Russia.

Moscow suspended imports from Tar Heel a year ago on claims that inspectors found excessive amounts of antibiotics in them. An FSIS spokesman at the time confirmed “drug residue issues.”

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