Vilsack, Kirk, Baucus respond to Russian suspension of U.S. meat imports
February 11, 2013 | 06:31 PM
As Russia’s ban on meat imports from the United States went into effect today, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a joint statement that Russia is not abiding by its obligations under membership in the World Trade Organization.
Russia is prohibiting imports of all U.S. beef, pork, turkey and other meat products by requiring a zero tolerance for the presence of ractopamine, a feed additive that is used in 27 countries. The Codex Alimentarius Commission, the United Nation’s food safety body, has said the drug has “no impact on human health” within recommended levels.
“The United States is very disappointed that Russia has taken action to suspend all imports of U.S. meat, which is produced to the highest safety standards in the world,” Kirk and Vilsack said.
“Russia's failure to adopt the Codex standard raises questions about its commitment to the global trading system. Despite repeated U.S. requests to discuss the safety of ractopamine, Russia has refused to engage in any constructive dialogue and instead has simply suspended U.S. meat imports,” the statement said.
“The United States calls on Russia to restore market access for U.S. meat and meat products immediately and to abide by its obligations as a member of the World Trade Organization.”
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., called on Russia today to “end its unscientific ban.”
“Ranchers in Montana and across the country are directly harmed by Russia’s unscientific restrictions on our beef and pork exports,” Baucus said in a news release. “Now that Russia is a member of the WTO, it must play by the rules and base its import standards on sound science.”
Russia is prohibiting imports of all U.S. beef, pork, turkey and other meat products by requiring a zero tolerance for the presence of ractopamine, a feed additive that is used in 27 countries. The Codex Alimentarius Commission, the United Nation’s food safety body, has said the drug has “no impact on human health” within recommended levels.
“The United States is very disappointed that Russia has taken action to suspend all imports of U.S. meat, which is produced to the highest safety standards in the world,” Kirk and Vilsack said.
“Russia's failure to adopt the Codex standard raises questions about its commitment to the global trading system. Despite repeated U.S. requests to discuss the safety of ractopamine, Russia has refused to engage in any constructive dialogue and instead has simply suspended U.S. meat imports,” the statement said.
“The United States calls on Russia to restore market access for U.S. meat and meat products immediately and to abide by its obligations as a member of the World Trade Organization.”
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., called on Russia today to “end its unscientific ban.”
“Ranchers in Montana and across the country are directly harmed by Russia’s unscientific restrictions on our beef and pork exports,” Baucus said in a news release. “Now that Russia is a member of the WTO, it must play by the rules and base its import standards on sound science.”
