Lithuania can now seek permission to export heat-treated poultry products to the USA, the State Food and Veterinary Service (SVVT) announced on Friday. However, the process may take a long time.  

The US Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service confirmed in early August that a formal procedure for obtaining an export permit could be launched, the MOFA said. 

„We have been waiting for US approval for more than ten months. I am pleased that the opportunity to provide even greater opportunities for Lithuanian producers has now arrived. We just need to be prepared for a long process," said Audronė Mikalauskienė, head of the Authority, in a statement.

In order to export Lithuanian poultry meat to the US, she said, the Authority will have to prove that the control of poultry products meets US requirements.

„Approval of meat products to the US has taken more than eight years. We will not avoid that this time either," said Ms Mikalauskiene. 

The Authority contacted the US authorities in November last year following a request from breeding companies.

Lithuanian producers can now export some dairy, fish and egg products, as well as beef products to the US.

According to the Authority, due to the outbreak of swine fever in Lithuania, the US has so far restricted the export of pork products, although permission has been granted.

According to the Authority, Lithuanian pork producers exported 7.57 thousand tonnes of products in the first half of the year, compared to 8.76 thousand tonnes in the whole of 2023. Lithuanian poultrymeat exports have fluctuated recently due to outbreaks of avian influenza.

The largest exports of poultry meat are to Vietnam, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, the United Kingdom, French Polynesia, Japan, Albania and other countries.