*EPF209 07/23/2002
Text: U.S., Russia May Be Near Final Settlement of Poultry Dispute
(USDA's Penn reports on latest negotiations in Washington) (370)

U.S. and Russian negotiators met again July 23 to discuss "the few outstanding differences" that remain in their dispute over U.S. poultry exports to Russia, and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary J.B. Penn said they "should know in a day or so" if final agreement has been reached on a new veterinary certificate acceptable to both sides.

Following is the USDA press release on the latest round of talks in Washington:

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U.S. Department of Agriculture
Washington, D.C.
July 23, 2002

POULTRY DISCUSSIONS CONTINUE; PROGRESS MADE TO RESOLVE REMAINING ISSUES TO ALLOW RESUMPTION OF U.S. EXPORTS TO RUSSIA

WASHINGTON, July 23, 2002 - Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services J.B. Penn said today that considerable progress has been made to resolve the long-running poultry trade dispute and the development of a new veterinary certificate for U.S. poultry exports to Russia.

"We addressed the few outstanding differences that remain between us and agreed to exchange final documents today related to the veterinary certificate," said Penn. "We should know in a day or so if we have reached final agreement on the certificate."

Penn made the comments following discussions held today with his Russian counterpart, First Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Sergei Dankvert and a team of U.S. and Russian officials.

These conversations follow on the round of talks between Russian and U.S. negotiators held in Moscow at the end of June and earlier that month in Washington. A large number of technical issues have been addressed in these talks, including testing requirements and procedures, inspection guidelines and process, hygienic requirements and documentation and procedure.

"We are pleased with the very considerable progress that has been made during the course of these negotiations," said Penn. "We fully expect to conclude this matter so that U.S. poultry trade to Russia can resume."

Representatives from several U.S. federal agencies have been involved in the ongoing discussions, including USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service, Food Safety and Inspection Service, and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the Food and Drug Administration, and the U.S. Trade Representative's Office.

Contact: Alisa Harrison (202) 720-4623

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(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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