Modern pork production practices have virtually eliminated trichinae from the...
Modern pork production practices have virtually eliminated trichinae from the U.S. hog population. International trading partners, therefore, should be able to confidently purchase U.S. pork without further regulation. Right?
Not necessarily. Pork currently exported to Russia – by Russian rules – must be either 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.
The goal would be to have our trading partners recognize the U.S. Trichinae Certification Program, now being pilot tested, as an effective alternative to freeze-or-inspect requirements. To accomplish this, the U.S. Meat Export Federation, National Pork Board and National Pork Producers Council recently joined forces with USDA to show a Russian official how our program works and why his country 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.
A number of market disruptions – most relating to poultry not pork – during the first four months of this year helped reduce U.S. pork exports to Russia to less than half the levels of a year ago during that period. Still, Russia was our fifth largest export destination in 2001, buying nearly 34,000 metric tons of pork and pork variety meats.
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 good production practices for Trichinella which have been implemented.
Bessonov indicated that he was pleased: “The program is a very adaptable and very good system.” 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.
In 2001, according to revised USDA statistics, total U.S. pork exports grew 21 percent in volume to more than 703,000 metric tons, while value grew 13 percent to nearly $1.6 billion. Exports now account for more than 9.9 percent of U.S. pork production on a wholesale weight basis.
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Dr. Andrej S. Bessonov, Director of Russia’s Academy of Agricultural Sciences, recently spent a week reviewing the U.S. Trichinae Certification Program, now being pilot tested. The U.S. industry hopes Bessonov will recommend the program to top Russian officials to help expedite pork trade with that country.
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Dr. Andrej S. Bessonov, Director of Russia’s Academy of Agricultural Sciences, was impressed with hog production facilities he visited during his recent week-long review of the U.S. Trichinae Certification Program pilot test. His recommendation of the program to his superiors could lead to the acceptance of the program in lieu of current costly and time consuming import rules.
The U.S. Meat Export Federation is the trade association responsible for developing international markets for the U.S. red meat industry and is funded by USDA, exporting companies, and the beef, pork, corn, sorghum and soybean checkoff programs.
– USMEF –