MOSCOW?Russia said Tuesday it wants the right to inspect U.S. poultry plants, a demand that came as the two countries were in tense negotiations after Russia banned imports of American chicken.

The two countries were in talks Monday and Tuesday over the Russian ban, which went into effect on Sunday. Moscow says it is worried about sanitary conditions at U.S. plants and the use of antibiotics and feed additives. U.S. officials say the ban is not justified scientifically and is simply protectionism.

Chicken is the top American export to Russia, bringing in $600 million to $700 million a year to producers in 38 U.S. states.

Mikhail Kravchuk, Russia’s chief veterinary inspector, said Russia is pushing at the talks for permission to send delegations to inspect U.S. plants that have shipped low quality poultry to Russia or failed to produce required delivery documents. He did not name specific companies.