U.S. lifts ban on Italian cured meats

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ROME, April 27 (UPI) -- The United States has lifted a ban on the import of Italian cured meats, which could mean more than $325 million in export revenues for Italy, officials said.

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced the ban on Italian cured meats will be lifted May 28, Italy's ANSA news agency reported.

"This is a momentous event -- one of the most important for the production and export of Italian salami and the result of 15 years of [lobbying] work," Italian industry association Assica said.

"Until now Americans have been forced to buy low-quality imitations of Italian cured meats," said farmers' organization Coldiretti.

The ban, put in place by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, cost Italy's cured meat industry more than $325 million annually in exports since it was put in place, Coldiretti said.