Russia has lifted its ban on Arkansas poultry, effective September 18. With the ban removed, poultry from Arkansas birds slaughtered after June 19 are now eligible for export to Russia, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)'s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
"We're just thrilled to death to see them take the action and lift the ban," said Marvin Childers, president of the Poultry Federation, which serves Arkansas, Oklahoma and Missouri.
Russian officials implemented the ban shortly after chickens at a farm in Boles, Ark., showed the presence of a low-pathogen form of H7N7 avian influenza during the week of June 17. About 9,000 chickens were destroyed, the farm was disinfected and poultry within a 6.2-mile radius of the farm was quarantined. The area has since been declared free of avian influenza.
Similar bans on Arkansas poultry were enacted by Japan and China. Those bans are still in place, Childers said.
