Food Safety and Inspection Service United States Department of Agriculture Washington, D.C. 20250-3700

Export Library

April 8, 2002

This Notice applies to the export of fresh/frozen poultry and poultry meat products to the Russian Federation when the current ban is lifted. The following conditions must be met:

1. FSIS Form 9450-4 (03/25/2002) -- Veterinary Certificate for Poultry Meat Exported into the Russian Federation. This form supercedes the previous edition and must accompany all future shipments of poultry meat to the Russian Federation. This form has been modified to include the following security features: (1) a blue USDA seal and (2) a USDA-watermarked certificate. No other changes were made to this certificate.

The original health certificate, FSIS Form 9450-4 (03/25/2002), must be provided to Russian inspection officials at the time the product arrives at the Russian port. The Russian Veterinary Service will no longer allow product entry without presentation of the original health certificate.

2. FSIS Form 9450-4A (03/25/2002) -- Transfer Certificate Fresh/Frozen Poultry Meat Intended for Export to the Russian Federation. This form has been modified to include the certification statements that are reflected on FSIS Form 9450-4, Section 3.

When the export documents are issued from a cold storage or other non-slaughter establishment, alternatively to providing copies of the State veterinary report, flock health certificates, residue test results, and Salmonella test results, the IIC at the slaughter establishment can provide FSIS Form 9450-4A (03/25/2002) for verification of the acceptability of these results.

3. The Approved Plant List has been modified to exclude a number of previously approved plants. Exporters should always check the list to assure that poultry products originate only from plants identified on the approved list. The list is published at the following web site address: www.fsis.usda.gov/OFO/export/explib.htm  In addition, the list has been reformatted so that plants are listed by State in alphabetical order.

 Health certificates will not be provided for poultry products originating from non-certified plants.

4. Salmonella testing.  Salmonella testing procedures for each consignment shall be modified as follows:

a. Where Salmonella initially is detected in 25 grams of muscle tissue in poultry carcasses or their parts (quarters, leg quarters, drumsticks, backs, etc.), they shall not be shipped to the Russian Federation.

b. For mechanically de-boned meat, testing will be performed as follows: If the initial sample taken from the deep muscle of the carcass tests positive for Salmonella, ten additional muscle samples of 25 grams each from not less than 10 carcasses will be taken and the tests repeated. If one of the 10 samples test positive for Salmonella, this consignment will not be exported to the Russian Federation.

Until further notice, with consignments of mechanically de-boned poultry, poultry carcasses representative of the carcasses used to produce the mechanically de-boned poultry (not less than 10) will be shipped to the Russian Federation to be tested for Salmonella. Products prepared for export to the Russian Federation that do not comply with the new Salmonella testing procedures will not be accepted by the Russian Veterinary Service.

5. Russian import permits. The Russian Veterinary Service issues import permits for all poultry products entering that country. The Russian inspection officials have advised that U.S. exporters should check with the Russian importer to assure that the importer has an import permit. If the importer does not have a valid import permit, the product may not be allowed entry.

6. Labeling requirements. In addition to the current labeling requirements, each carton must bear information regarding the production date (day, month, year) and the "use by" date (day, month, year).

This Notice does not apply to the certification of fully cooked meat and poultry products certified by FSIS Form 9450-7 (7/95); or heat treated but not fully cooked - not shelf-stable poultry products certified by FSIS Form 9450-7 (7/95).

If there are questions regarding this Notice, please contact the Export Staff at the Technical Service Center at (402) 221-7400 or 1-800-233-3935, or by Fax at (402) 221-7479.

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