Tyson Foods has been actively communicating with the governments of the United States and China in hopes that one of its poultry plants in Springdale, Arkansas, will regain eligibility to export products to China.
In late June, China announced that it would suspend imports from that facility, but at the time did not offer much specific information regarding why it chose to do so. The suspension of imports originating from that plant occurred only about seven months after the Chinese government lifted a ban on U.S. poultry imports. That ban, which was implemented due to concerns about the potential spread of avian influenza, had been in place since 2015.
“We’ve been interacting with (Chinese officials) and making sure that they have all the information they need about the precautionary measures, the protective measures, that that plant has taken,” Dean Banks, Tyson Foods president and CEO-elect said during a conference call with reporters on August 3.
“We’re just doing everything we can -- as usual -- to be transparent and interactive. We’d love to continue to export products from that facility, but that’s in the hands of the Chinese government.”
Banks indicated that the plant has been described as a model for other plants to follow in terms of sanitary and protective measures by both health officials in Arkansas and by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
In addition to communicating with the Chinese government, Banks said Tyson Foods has also been working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue.
“Secretary Perdue has been phenomenally supportive of the company and making sure we’re treated fairly by all of our global trade partners,” Banks said.
Tyson Foods operates two poultry plants in Springdale. One is located on Berry Street and the other on Randall Road. The company is also headquartered in Springdale.
