USDA eases restrictions on Argentine chicken imports

USDA eases restrictions on Argentine chicken imports    The U.S. Department of Agriculture has added Argentina to its list of regions considered free of the poultry illness exotic Newcastle disease, effective March 1.
   “We have conducted a risk evaluation and have determined that Argentina has met our requirements for being recognized as free of this disease,” the USDA said.
   However, the Argentina’s shippers must provide certification to confirm that their poultry products exported to the United States originated in a region free of exotic Newcastle disease and that prior to shipment they were not commingled with poultry from infected regions.
   The USDA said poultry meat imported from Argentina could potentially affect U.S. chicken prices. “Consumers will benefit from any price decreases for poultry and poultry products, while producers will potentially be negatively affected by more competitive prices,” the USDA said.
   However, the USDA doesn’t expected a major economic impact from Argentine chicken imports on U.S. farmers. In 2003, Argentina exported $22 million worth of poultry products, while the United States produced $15.2 billion worth of broilers, the USDA said.