MOSCOW – Russia will impose a temporary ban on US turkey meat imports on concerns about the use of ractopamine, a feed additive, Russia’s Veterinary and Phyto-Sanitary Surveillance Service said in a statement.

The temporary restrictions are set to begin Feb. 11, and will include turkey meat and value-added products, according to the agency. Russia also imposed a ban on chilled and frozen US meat imports. The chilled meat ban went into effect Feb. 4, while frozen meat will be banned starting Feb. 11.
 
Russia imported 356,000 tonnes of poultry between January and October 2012, Reuters reported. Through November 2011, the US exported 3,930 tonnes of turkey to Russia valued at more than $7 million.

The USA Poultry & Egg Export Council said companies that export turkeys to Russia do not use ractopamine on their birds.