U.S. Wants Freedom from Russian Trichinae Rules

July 19, 2002

Even thought modern pork production practices have virtually eliminated trichinae from the U.S. hog population, pork currently exported to Russia - by Russian rules - either must be frozen according to a USDA Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) regulation, or every shipment must be tested and declared trichinae-free. Either step adds cost and potential for delays and other interruptions of the market.

U.S. meat industry officials say the goal would be to have U.S. trading partners recognize the U.S. Trichinae Certification Program, now being pilot tested, "as an effective alternative to freeze-or-inspect requirements."

The U.S. Meat Export Federation, National Pork Board and National Pork Producers Council recently joined with USDA to show a Russian official how the U.S. program works and why Russia should recognize it as a safe alternative to current regulations.

Dr. Andrej S. Bessonov, director of Russia's Academy of Agricultural Sciences, recently spent five days touring midwestern hog growing and finishing facilities, a pork packing plant and USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service offices to better understand our trichinae certification program.

U.S. officials hoped to get Bessonov's recommendation that his country should participate in a pilot project that would recognize the U.S. certification program as meeting or exceeding Russia's current import regulations.

The Trichinae Certification Program is a pre-harvest pork safety program that provides documentation of swine management practices which minimize risk of exposure of swine to the parasite trichinella spiralis. By adhering to these practices, facilities can be certified as trichinae-safe.

Pilot testing of the program is expected to be completed next year and should lead to a nationwide on-farm food safety program for the U.S. pork industry. If Russia also agrees to participate in the pilot test, success could lead to similar recognition of the program by other trading partners.

While here, Bessonov learned about the industry-government collaboration that went into the development of the program and the procedures that will govern it. He spent most of the week on the farms and in the packing plant involved in the pilot program to see firsthand the production practices that have been implemented.

When asked if he would recommend that the Russian director of the Veterinary Department in the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation participate in this pilot program, he indicated that he would recommend it as a third option to current procedures.