China barred pork imports from six U.S processing plants and six cold storage facilities beginning in August to enforce its ban on the use of ractopamine, a feed additive that promotes lean muscle growth, Reuters news service reported, quoting the USDA.
Affected by the ban are Tyson Foods plants in Perry and Storm Lake, Iowa, and Logansport, Ind.; Hormel Foods' Fremont, Neb., facility; Triumph Foods, St. Joseph, Mo.; and Quality Pork Processors, Austin, Minn.
The cold storage facilities are Cloverleaf Cold Storage, Fairmont, Minn.; Frozen Assets Cold Storage, Chicago; Nor-Am Cold Storage, St. Joseph, Mo.; Millard Refrigerated Services, Edwardsville, Kan.; Hanson Cold Storage Co., Logansport, Ind.; and Americold Logistics LLC, Fremont, Neb.
China is requiring third-party verification that U.S. pork shipped to the country is free of the additive, which is sold for hog farm use under the name Paylean. The additive is also banned by Russia and most of the European Union.
China is the world's largest consumer and producer of pork. It's America's third largest market for pork, behind Mexico and Japan. While U.S. pork exports to China are significant -- valued at more than $600 million last year – commodity experts noted strong demand and pricing here in the U.S. could soften any impact. Tyson said it expects to find other markets for its pork products.
