US ends eight-month ban on French foie gras

The United States has lifted an eight-month ban on the import of French foie gras, hams and other luxury cold meats, the French…

The United States has lifted an eight-month ban on the import of French foie gras, hams and other luxury cold meats, the French Agriculture Ministry reported.

"The United States are now again allowing the import of foie gras and other products based on charcuterie (cooked meats)," a spokeswoman for the Agriculture Ministry said.

The ban was imposed in February after several meat plants failed US inspections, prompting angry French demands for proof that its facilities were not up to standard.

France challenged the US ban, imposed at a time of strained trade relations between the European Union and Washington over US export tax breaks, at the World Trade Organization.

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The spokeswoman said the United States had lifted its restrictions following fresh hygiene checks over the past month at plants that failed the original inspections.

France exported 123 tonnes of foie gras to the United States last year, of which 4 to 5 per cent went to the United States.