VZCZCXRO6470
RR RUEHDBU
DE RUEHEK #0740 1950524
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 140524Z JUL 09
FM AMEMBASSY BISHKEK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2444
INFO RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ASTANA 2230
RUEHNT/AMEMBASSY TASHKENT 0024
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 0105
RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT 4439
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 3167
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 0827
RUEHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA 0689
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC 0706
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC

UNCLAS BISHKEK 000740 
 
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN, EEB 
DEPT PASS TO USTR 
VIENNA FOR APHIS 
ANKARA FOR USDA (GIFFORD) 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAGR ETRD KG
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON KYRGYZ RESTRICTIONS ON U.S. MEAT EXPORTS 
 
¶1.  (U) Following the outbreak of the H1N1 (swine flu) virus, Kyrgyz 
authorities in late April announced a ban on the import of an 
unspecified variety of meat products from the United States.  Kyrgyz 
authorities subsequently relaxed their ban to conform to similar 
bans established by Russian and Kazakh authorities.  After repeated 
requests from the Embassy for clarification, the Kyrgyz Veterinary 
Department sent the Embassy on July 2 a Russian-language decree, 
which we have translated below, regarding the ban: 
 
(Begin text) 
 
Because of the outbreak of swine flu H1N1 on the territory of Mexico 
and the USA, and for the purpose of preventing this virus from 
penetrating the territory of the Kyrgyz Republic, the following 
measures should be taken until further special notice: 
 
¶1.  To implement the following measures: 
 
1.1 To ban for import and transit on the territory of the Kyrgyz 
Republic meat, raw meat and meat products, which have not gone 
through thermal processing and acquired from all types of animals 
shipped after April 28, 2009 from Mexico, and Texas, California and 
Kansas in the USA. 
 
1.2 To ban meat and meat products acquired from all types of 
animals, including goods which have gone through thermal processing, 
in passengers' carry-on (baggage) coming from Mexico and the U.S. 
states of Texas, California and Kansas. 
 
1.3 To ban pork and its products, which have not gone through 
thermal processing and shipped after April 28, 2009 from Guatemala, 
Honduras, the Dominican Republic, Columbia, Costa Rica, Cuba, 
Nicaragua, Panama, El Salvador, and also the U.S. states of Alabama, 
Arkansas, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and 
Florida. 
 
¶2.  The current supplement to Decree #4, dated April 21, 2009, 
should be distributed to all participants in external trade and all 
agencies of the Veterinary Department. 
 
¶3.  Enforcement of this decree is to be performed by J.J. 
Osmonaliev, head of State Veterinary Inspection at the Veterinary 
Department. 
 
(End text.) 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶2.  (U) Local importers of U.S. meat products have not reported any 
difficulties working with Kyrgyz authorities in importing poultry 
and other food products from the United States as a result of this 
ban.  Embassy will continue to monitor and report any future 
developments. 
 
LITZENBERGER