Russia's import ban now includes meat from Wisconsin

Russian regulators are expanding bans on pork and other meat imports to more U.S. states, citing H1N1 flu fears.

The decision to include Wisconsin, Washington and Illinois brings the number of states affected by the ban on pork, chicken and other meat imports to seven.

Pork imports are already banned from four other states.

A spokesman for the agricultural oversight agency Rosselkhoznadzor says the move is temporary and meant to protect Russians from the disease.

Alexei Alexeyenko said Tuesday that the agency still has questions about what steps the United States is taking to prevent the disease's spread.

U.S. officials complain that humans can't get H1N1 from eating pork and that the ban is designed to protect Russian producers.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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