For several years now reefers (refrigerated cargo vessels) carrying frozen chicken legs loaded in the southern United States have called in Falmouth for bunkers whilst en-route to Russia, which imports 950,000 tonnes of US poultry each year.

Now the Russian federal service for veterinary and food inspection Rospotrebnadzor is closely examining import permits. They will ban imports from America until it has a list of American firms that do not use excessive chlorine or anti-biotics in processing the chicken.

In the foreseeable future the reefers will stop coming to Falmouth carrying what the Russians call “Bush’s Little Legs”, unless Russia and the US agree new conditions.