embassy events 2007 

United States Opens Market to Polish Pork

28 November 2007 

“The U.S. market is now open to chilled and frozen pork from Poland,” said Charge d’Affairs Kenneth Hillas of the U.S. Embassy, adding that the regulatory change announced today by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will directly benefit Polish pork producers and the Polish economy.  “Opening our market to competition from Poland demonstrates our commitment to an open, global market for agricultural products and our belief in a transparent and fair regulatory process based on sound science and not politics,” Hillas added.

The final regulation published today by USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) addresses swine diseases, including Classical Swine Fever, for four countries including Poland, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, and Latvia, and becomes effective 15 days from today’s date of publication.

“With this new rule the United States is recognizing the high standards of the Polish Ministry of Agriculture’s food safety system and its protocol for animal health,” said a USDA spokesperson, who underscored that “we look forward to continued close cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture so that farmers in both countries can benefit from open markets and increased trade.”

The United States already imports processed pork from Poland, with sales estimated to reach US $40 million in 2007.  In the next five years, depending on market conditions, USDA estimates that the United States will import between US $12-25 million in chilled and frozen pork annually from Poland, providing Polish pork producers an export market of about $60 million a year.

A link to the entire final regulation can be found at: http://poland.usembassy.gov/poland/agric.html