MOSCOW – First it was ractopamine residues, lately it’s refrigerators that have Russia balking at allowing US pork imports from two subsidiaries of Smithfield Foods, Inc., according toRussian news reports.

Russia banned US frozen meat after receiving no response to its request for information about measures the US is taking to prevent exporting chilled and frozen meat products with ractopamine residues. Russia previously planned to resume imports of US pork starting March 10.


However, a Reuters report stated that Russia still plans to allow pork imports from two Smithfield subsidiaries, and more companies could be added to the list of firms permitted to export pork to Russia.