MOSCOW, January 30 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's agricultural regulator said Tuesday the ban it had imposed on pork imports from the United States over veterinary concerns would be lifted as of February 1.

"Supplies will be allowed from all slaughterhouses, meat-processing companies and coolstores included on the November 29, 2005 lists of enterprises authorized to export this class of product into Russia," Rosselkhoznadzor said in a news release.

Six new companies were added to the list of pork exporters.

The watchdog also lifted a ban on poultry deliveries from a U.S. company but warned that the supplier, suspected of inadequate salmonella control in the past, would remain under the close scrutiny of Russian inspectors.

Russia's restrictions on U.S. meat imports were a major stumbling block in bilateral negotiations on Russia's entry to the World Trade Organization. Last November, Moscow secured a hard-fought bilateral agreement with Washington, removing the last major obstacle to its joining the world's largest trade body.