Russia checks Belgian, French meat plants, may revise import ban

Russia's agricultural safety regulator has launched inspections at beef-processing factories in Belgium and France with the possibility of revising its import ban, a spokesman said Friday.

MOSCOW, August 17 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's agricultural safety regulator has launched inspections at beef-processing factories in Belgium and France with the possibility of revising its import ban, a spokesman said Friday.

Alexei Alekseyenko said the checks followed an embargo introduced April 9 after meat products processed in Belgium and France were found to be contaminated with salmonella.

The Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Oversight "sent a group of experts to these countries to inspect the beef. The inspection will be completed on August 25 and will involve 10 plants," he said.

Russia has also banned meat imports from the United States, Germany, the Netherlands, Brazil and Uruguay since the start of 2007.