The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) developed this Laboratory Approval Program for Pork for the analysis of pork products destined for exportation from the United States to Russia at the request of the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). Pork products must be tested for certain microorganisms and chemical residues in order to meet the requirements of the USDA FSIS Veterinary Certificate for Pork Meat Exported into the Russian Federation.
Each slaughter facility must provide samples for the analyses of tetracyclines, Listeria monocytogenes, Total Plate Count, and generic Salmonella. Tetracyclines and Listeria monocytogenes are analyzed quarterly. Total Plate Count and Salmonella are analyzed one sample per production day.
Much of the testing is done by laboratories participating in the USDA AMS LAP for Pork, with USDA verifying the reliability of those results. There is an annual fee for participation in the program.
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