WASHINGTON – According to press reports, Russia has agreed to lift a ban on U.S. chicken imports, President Barack Obama announced at a joint press conference with President Dmitry Medvedev in Washington.

In January, Russia cut U.S. chicken imports over concerns about the amount of chlorine U.S. companies use in the processing of poultry. According to a Bloomberg report, Russia’s agriculture safety watchdog said U.S. poultry processors have agreed to use substances other than chlorine to comply with Russian regulations. The substances have to be tested and registered in Russia, it added.


In 2009, Russia spent $752.5 million on U.S. chicken meat, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data. In the four months ended April 30, U.S. chicken exports to Russia plunged 84% from a year earlier with no shipments in March or April, according to U.S.D.A. data.