|
Conferees on the agriculture appropriations bill –– led by House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) –– have agreed on language in the FY 2010 agriculture appropriations conference report with respect to potential imports of poultry products from China. |
|
|
|
The change allows USDA to use appropriated funds in FY 2010 to develop a a rule allowing imports of processed poultry or poultry products from China only after the secretary of Agriculture notifies Congress that certain conditions have been met. |
|
|
|
According to a USDA statement, the department worked with DeLauro to craft the final language, which "ensures the protection of the nation's food supply in a manner consistent with scientific principles as required under U.S. international obligations." |
|
|
|
Under U.S. law, poultry and poultry products may not be imported from any foreign country unless USDA determines that the food safety standards, facilities, and conditions of that country achieve a level of sanitary protection equivalent to that achieved by U.S. standards. If USDA determines that a country achieves this level of protection for some or all poultry products, it issues a rule permitting import of such products, subject to border inspection and other requirements. |
|
|
|
China is the No 1 market for U.S. poultry exports and No 2 for pork with purchases of $690 million. Livestock groups said the agreement on poultry showed the United States would play by the rules and that China should too. |
