Russian producers are ready for the potential...
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin warned the United States on Thursday that Russia could find other poultry suppliers if U.S. companies fail to meet the country"s sanitary requirements.
Tougher sanitary regulations regarding poultry processing that restrict the use of chlorine and moisture content came into force in Russia January 1. U.S. companies have traditionally used chlorine in poultry processing and will not be able to supply their products to Russia any longer.
"Russian [poultry] producers will increase output and they were ready for [the ban] on the back of earlier forecasts on lower import quotas," Irina Ostryakova from Cherkizovo Group said.
She said Petelinka, one of Russia"s key poultry producers and a Cherkizovo subsidiary, had long used air chilling in poultry processing and refused to comment on substitutes for U.S. chlorine-treated chicken.
Ostryakova described the government motion as pro-Russian.