Wisconsin Ag Connection - National/World News - Industry Urges USTR to Act Against European Ban on American Poultry

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Industry Urges USTR to Act Against European Ban on American Poultry
USAgNet - 01/12/2010

The American poultry industry has urged U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk to 'fully and resolutely pursue' a World Trade Organization action against European Union rules that effectively block American poultry from the European market.

"The injustice against U.S. poultry has continued for far too long, and it is time to begin correct that injustice," the presidents of the National Chicken Council (NCC), National Turkey Federation (NTF), and USA Poultry & Egg Export Council (USAPEEC) told Kirk's agency in a letter. "We encourage USTR to fully and resolutely pursue the dispute settlement process."

The EU bans U.S. poultry that has been processed using chlorinated water, which helps control potentially pathogenic microorganisms and is considered safe and effective by U.S. authorities. The EU adopted its policy in 1997 after other barriers to U.S. poultry began to crumble under the pressure of trade liberalization. The industry estimates that the policy prevents it from developing a market in Europe worth about $240 million for chicken and $60 million for turkey and duck.

The European Food Safety Agency (EFSA), and the EU's Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks (SCHER) and Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) cleared the way in 2008 for approval of the use of four pathogen-reducing treatments -- chlorine dioxide, acidified sodium chlorite, trisodium phosphate, and peroxyacids -- finding them safe and effective. The European Commission tentatively approved the use of the PRT's but was overruled by representatives of national governments. USTR subsequently announced that it would file an action under the WTO dispute resolution process.

WTO rules require that sanitary measures must be based on sound science and appropriate risk assessments to make sure they are employed fairly, justifiable, and without discrimination, the industry representatives noted.