Source: Tom Johnston, MEATINGPLACE, 2/3/14

U.S. and Russian food safety officials were slated to hold telephone talks Friday on Moscow reopening to imports of U.S. pork, beef and turkey products, according to a notice posted by Russia’s Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance agency (VPSS).

Russia’s food safety chief, Sergei Dankvert, meanwhile, told the country’s Interfax News agency that Moscow plans to end the ban, beginning with turkey in mid-February and pork by March.

Russia banned imports of U.S. pork, beef and turkey early last year based on fears of their containing the feed additive ractopamine.

The VPSS announcement comes a week ahead of the Winter Olympics to be held in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi, and just days following Russia’s decision to bar EU pork amid an outbreak of African Swine Fever in Lithuania.

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