WARSAW, Poland, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Poland's chief veterinary officer said 29 meat producers would soon begin exporting to Russia, following Moscow sanitary experts' approval.

Ewa Lech, Polish chief veterinary officer said 20 farms for live swine exports and nine poultry meat processors qualified to resume Polish exports, ending a two-year Russian ban on meat trade from Poland, the Warsaw Voice Online reported Monday.

Lech told the Polish news agency PAP the facilities of exports companies were inspected by Russian veterinary officers earlier this month.

Russian media said more than 65 Polish companies, expected to have qualified to the exporter list, would ship up to 30,000 to 40,000 tons of meat to Russia in 2008, PAP said.

In mid-December, Poland and Russia signed an agreement lifting Moscow's ban on imports of Polish meat.

Polish and Russian officials have agreed that lifting the meat ban should improve relations between both Warsaw and Moscow, and Russia and the European Union.