USDA to permit meat shipments from Slovakia

USDA to permit meat shipments from Slovakia    The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service will allow Slovakia to ship meat products to the United States, effective April 11.
   The agency said reviews of Slovakia’s laws, regulations, and other written materials show its meat processing system meets U.S. government standards.
   “Meat products processed in certified establishments in Slovakia will be eligible to be exported to the United States only if these products are derived from cattle, sheep, swine, or goats slaughtered in federally inspected establishments in the United States, or in certified slaughter establishments in other countries eligible to export meat to the United States,” the agency said.
   All meat products exported to the United States from Slovakia are subject to further inspection upon arrival in U.S. ports.
   According to the USDA, there is only one company in Slovakia that has applied to export meat products to the United States. This company plans to export non-heat-treated shelf stable pork products, such as sausages and salami, and non-shelf-stable cooked pork products, such as pasteurized hams and specialty cured, cooked, and smoked meat products. U.S. imports from this company are expected to total 520 tons per year, the USDA said.
   U.S. companies currently export no meat products and only a small amount of poultry products to Slovakia, the USDA said.