Moscow Mayor to maintain US poultry ban

Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov said on Thursday that he intends to maintain aban on imports of US poultry to the Russian capital even though the federalministries in charge of food have canceled a nationwide prohibition.Last week, top US trade and agriculture officials announced that afive-month impasse over the poultry had ended with both sides' agreement toa new veterinary certificate designed to mitigate Russian concerns aboutsanitary practices in the United States."It is deplorable that the Russian Agriculture and Public Health Ministriesmade an official decision to permit sales of American poultry on theRussian market again," Luzhkov was quoted as saying. Along with someRussian researchers, Luzhkov maintains that US poultry additives causeunnatural obesity and other medical problems in people. Luzhkov rejected ademand from US ambassador to Russia Alexander Vershbow to permit a returnof poultry imports, the Russia Journal reported..