U.S.-Russian poultry accord

WASHINGTON - Russia and the United States have settled the last remaining technical issue that led to recent bans by Russia on the importation of American poultry, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The agreement allows for the immediate resumption of inspections of U.S. poultry-processing plants by the Russian Veterinary Service.

Those issues were based on differences between Russian and U.S. veterinary practices.

Russia is the largest buyer of U.S. poultry, and, Georgia, the largest poultry-producing state, accounts for eight percent of poultry exports to Russia - much of it from the Gainesville area.