VZCZCXYZ0009
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMO #1187 1320326
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 120326Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
TO RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC PRIORITY 5485
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3210
INFO RUEHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA 4752
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 5312

UNCLAS MOSCOW 001187 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
USDA FAS FOR OCRA/KUYPERS, RIKER; OSTA/BEAN, 
HAMILTON, HAXTON; ONA/TING, SALLYARDS 
PASS FSIS DUTROW, HARRIES 
PASS APHIS BURLESON 
STATE FOR EUR/RUS 
STATE PASS USTR FOR CHATTIN, HAFNER, MURPHY 
BRUSSELS PASS APHIS/FERNANDEZ 
VIENNA PASS APHIS/MITCHELL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAGR ETRD ECON WTO RS
SUBJECT: RUSSIA MAINTAINS RESTRICTIONS ON U.S. 
MEAT AND POULTRY 
 
REF: A) HANSEN/MITCHELL EMAIL 05/07/09, B) MOSCOW 
1161, C) MOSCOW 1150 
 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Russian Federal Veterinary 
and Phytosanitary Surveillance Service (VPSS) 
advised via official letter that restrictions 
placed on meat and poultry products from 8 U.S. 
states are in place.  As of today, California, 
New York, Texas, South Carolina, Delaware and 
(most recently) Illinois are restricted from 
exporting all types of fresh/frozen meat and 
poultry products to Russia.  In addition, 
temporarily restricts are still in place on all 
fresh/frozen pork and pork products from Arizona, 
Massachusetts and South Carolina. The original 
scanned copy of the letter and courtesy 
translation were sent to FAS/APHIS on May 7, 2009 
(REF A).  An informal embassy translation of the 
letter follows. END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (SBU) BEGIN TEXT: 
Moscow, May 6, 2009 
FS-NV-2/4294 
 
Regional Director 
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
(APHIS) In the European Union 
Mr. Jay Mitchell 
 
The Federal Veterinary and Phytosanitary 
Surveillance Service (VPSS) extends its regards 
to USDA/APHIS and informs you of the following: 
 
Due to new information on the epizootic/ 
epidemiological situation in the United States 
regarding the spread of Influenza A H1N1 
California/04/2009, VPSS is forced to restrict 
imports of all types of fresh/frozen meat and 
poultry, as well as all processed meat and 
poultry products that have not been heat-treated 
at a minimum temperature of 80 degrees Celsius 
for at least 30 minutes, from Illinois that are 
manufactured and packaged after May 6, 2009. 
This means that Illinois is now in the Zone 1 
risk level group. 
 
As of May 6, 2009, South Carolina has been 
downgraded to the Zone 2 risk group.  Therefore, 
the restrictions to South Carolina are limited to 
the export of live pigs, fresh and frozen pork 
and pork products, and processed pork products 
that have not been heat-treated at a minimum 
temperature of 80 degrees Celsius for at least 30 
minutes, from this state to the Russian 
Federation.  The prohibition covers pork products 
manufactured and packaged after May 6, 2009. 
 
Mr. Mitchell, let me assure you of my highest 
esteem. 
 
N.A. Vlasov 
Deputy Head 
END TEXT. 
 
RUBIN