Russia needs more assurance from the United States on salmonella, otherwise it will take action on poultry imports, the head of Russia's consumer protection watchdog RosPotrebNadzor told RIA news agency.

USA Poultry and Egg Export Council assured Russia that U.S. poultry is safe and not affected by the salmonella outbreak that has forced the recall of more than a half billion U.S. table eggs. But RosPotrebNadzor's Gennady Onishchenko said this was not sufficient.

"We would like to receive an official response from the U.S. Agriculture Ministry," he said. Failing that, the watchdog retains the right to take "adequate measures", RIA reported. (Reuters)