By the end of last year, Russia had de-listed virtually all U.S. pork facilities, prohibiting them from shipping pork to the country.

As part of the agreement, the United States has developed an Export Verification program for pork going to Russia. The verification program will provide a new veterinary certificate to ensure that U.S. pork exports meet specific Russian microbiological and tetracycline-group antibiotic residue requirements. U.S. plants that want to export to Russia must apply for approval with USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service.

"Our pork meets U.S. and international standards, so we did not see the need for the EV program," said National Pork Producers Council President Don Butler. "But the Russians wanted the program, and we wanted to get back in the market. We now need to get China to re-open its market to U.S. pork."