WTO Panel Examines India's Ag Imports
U.S. says India breached its WTO agreement; settlement body to hear complaint.
Compiled by staff
Published: Jul 3, 2012
The World Trade Organization Dispute Settlement Body established a panel June 25 to examine the U.S. complaint against India's agricultural import measures.
The U.S. and other members voiced concerns about India's measures prohibiting the importation of various agricultural products into India from members that reported outbreaks of low Pathogenic Notifiable Avian Influenza.
The U.S. claimed the measures were not scientific, inconsistent with the WTO Animal Health guidelines, and did not follow India's WTO obligations.
India's measures have "adversely affected exports of these products from the United States to India," according to the U.S. request for panel. "The United States considers that India's measures are inconsistent with India's obligations."
U.S. says India breached its WTO agreement; settlement body to hear complaint. However, India said it had provided explanations for its policies and was prepared to defend them. Current measures that provide for India's import restrictions include the Indian Livestock Importation Act 1898 and orders by the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, S.O. 1663(E).
Products involved in the restriction include: domestic and wild birds; day old chicks, ducks, and turkey; unprocessed meat from avian species; hatching eggs; feathers; live pigs; and products of animal origin intended for use in animal feeding.
The establishment of this panel comes after a request was filed by the U.S. in early March, 2012. China, Colombia, Ecuador, EU, Guatemala, Japan and Viet Nam will participate in the panel proceedings.
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Tagged: livestock, animal health
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