Chicken

A Russian official says the Agriculture Ministry is willing to waive a paperwork deadline for U.S. poultry exports to Russia.

The U.S. companies had been told they had until Aug. 1 to prepare new veterinary certificates for the exports. But the Russian official says Russia needs time to print the new certificates. He says the government will accept the current certificates "probably for a month or two."

Russian and U.S. officials have been negotiating new rules on the exports after Russia complained about sanitation of U.S. birds.

Russia has refused to take poultry from Virginia and several other states since April.

A U.S. official expects the dispute to be wrapped up within days. The United States says the latest discussions center on testing, inspection, sanitation and documentation.