US, Russia continuing talks on ractopamine-free turkey and pork

Not satisfied that the U.S. has done enough to assure turkey and pork exports to Russia would be free of ractopamine, the Russian veterinary and food safety agency, Rosselkhoznador, has scheduled additional talks with U.S. officials on August 21. In February, Russia placed a ban on U.S. turkey, pork and beef products because of worries over ractopamine use in feeds.
Parties from the two countries are continuing the talks after failing to reach an agreement on August 15. Officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration are expected to participate.
The two nations are discussing a program proposed by the U.S. that assures the growth promoter ractopamine, or other beta-agonists would not be used in the production of turkey meat to be exported to Russia or Customs Union territory. The U.S. has expressed its readiness to ensure the export of ractopamine-free turkey meat to the Customs Union countries. However, Russian officials have expressed worries that inspections and tests for ractopamine use may have been conducted by the exporting companies and not the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service. 

China announces additional testing for all US pork March 1

China has announced that beginning on March 1, 2013 all U.S. pork products will be tested for ractopamine, a feed additive used to promote lean muscle growth by a third-party testing firm, according to the U.S. Meat Export Federation. The feed additive has been found to be safe and certain levels are deemed acceptable by the United Nations.
China is the world's biggest producer and consumer of pig meat and the third-largest market for U.S. pork. The announcement is odd considering that no pork products from the US have tested positive for the feed additive, recently. U.S. pork exports to China and Hong Kong, totaled $886 million in 2012.
Some industry insiders see the move as a way to protect its domestic pig production, and earlier in February, Russia barred any U.S. meat products that contain ractopamine. If China were to ban pork imports from the United States, it would boost pig production in Canada, Brazil and the European Union.

US responds to Russia's ban on meat imports

United States Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk today issued the following statement in response to Russia's suspension of U.S. meat imports:
"The United States is very disappointed that Russia has taken action to suspend all imports of U.S. meat, which is produced to the highest safety standards in the world. Russia has disregarded the extensive and expert scientific studies conducted by the international food safety standards body, the Codex Alimentarius Commission, which has repeatedly concluded that animal feed containing the additive ractopamine is completely safe for livestock and for humans that consume their meat. Russia's failure to adopt the Codex standard raises questions about its commitment to the global trading system. Despite repeated U.S. requests to discuss the safety of ractopamine, Russia has refused to engage in any constructive dialogue and instead has simply suspended U.S. meat imports. The United States calls on Russia to restore market access for U.S. meat and meat products immediately and to abide by its obligations as a Member of the World Trade Organization."
As of February 11, 2013, Russia is prohibiting imports of all U.S. beef, pork, turkey and other meat products by requiring a zero tolerance for the presence of ractopamine. Ractopamine is an additive for animal feed that is used in 27 countries, and has been shown to be completely safe at levels established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the United Nation's Codex Alimentarius Commission, the preeminent food safety international standards organization.