U.S. Could Accept China Poultry exports-USDA

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - China could soon be allowed to export processed poultry and poultry products to the United States, after a proposal made by the U.S. Agriculture Department's Food Safety and Inspection Service.

The FSIS said on Friday that reviews of China's laws and regulations showed the country's poultry processing system included requirements equivalent to the U.S. poultry inspection act.

However, China would only be eligible to export poultry products from birds slaughtered in other countries eligible to export to the United States, FSIS said in a statement.

Products from birds slaughtered in China's domestic establishments are not allowed for export to the U.S.

The FSIS said comments on the proposed rule should be received on or before January 23, 2006.