Rospotrebnadzor suspends import of poultry meat treated with chlorine

Russia's sanitary service suspends the sanitary-epidemiological conclusions on poultry meat imported from abroad, production of which is handled by chlorine since January 1, 2010. According to the Interfax news service agency, the relevant decree was signed by the head of Rospotrebnadzor, chief state sanitary doctor Gennady Onishchenko, Russia.

Experts note that the health standards involves the almost complete ban on the import of poultry meat to Russia from the United States. According to authorities, "the use of chlorine in the water for cooling poultry leads to the accumulation on the surface and inside of poultry meat by-products of oxidative activity of free chlorine, primarily organochlorine compounds that are hazardous to human health." In Rospotrebnadzor noted that EU legislation also prohibits the use of any substance other than potable or clean water to remove surface contamination from products of animal origin. Day before Onishchenko told Interfax that Russia's sanitary service sent a letter to the FCS that from 1 January 2010 a ban on the import of poultry meat in Russia has been treated with chlorine. January 1 in Russia should enter into force new rules processing of poultry, limiting the use of chlorine.

Onishchenko said that the overwhelming majority of Russian enterprises changed the technology, and now using cold air, with less harmful acetic and lactic acid. On the poultry from the United States, which falls under the ban, Onishchenko said: "This is not a ban on someone's quota. Treat meat as required by our national legislation, and no one will object to importation. Sergei Dankvert the head of Rosselkhoznadzor supported Rospotrebnadzor requirement of poultry meat safety.