Lithuania completes negotiations on meat export to US

Officially permission to export Lithuanian meat and meat products to the United States will enter into force after the public debate concludes.

“That is perfect news from the US colleagues. They also informed us that public discussion, during which members of the public are given the opportunity to get acquainted with the FSIS proposal and its conclusions, will continue until 17 February 2015. We hope that next year, in the first half of the year, Lithuanian meat processing companies will be able to send their production to the USA,” said Jonas Milius, director of the State Food and Veterinary Service.

The FSIS acknowledges in this proposal that the state meat safety control system in effect in Lithuania complies fully with the US requirements. Lithuanian producers will be able to export beef, pork, mutton, goat and their products to the US. Still, companies that want to export their production to the US will need to have an approval of the State Food and Veterinary Service and inspectors of the competent authorities of the USA will control additionally all the imported products at the import posts.

Negotiations with the FSIS on the export permit started in 2004, but procedures of examination of the official report and preparation of conclusions particularly have moved forward after the meeting of Lithuanian Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius and Secretary of the Department of Agriculture of the USA Tom Vilsack last October.