Rome, April 26 - A long-standing ban on the import of Italian salami to the United States due to Federal Drug Administration (FDA) rules against cured-pork meat imports will be lifted starting May 28, an announcement by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS) said on Friday.

"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.

Coldiretti estimates that the ban costs the industry more than 250 million euros per year in lost exports.

ANSA