10-1 news: Groups urge trade representative to challenge E.U. barrier to U.S. poultry
In the letter to Ambassador Kirk the groups noted that early in 2009 WTO dispute settlement consultations were held with the European Union in an attempt to move the EU toward official approval of four antimicrobials that are FDA/USDA approved and have been scientifically proven in both the United States and the EU to be safe and efficacious in reducing pathogens on poultry. Since the official consultations earlier this year resulted in no resolution of the issue, it is now “most appropriate to take the issue to the next step in the WTO dispute settlement panel process, namely requesting that the issue be addressed by a WTO dispute settlement panel”, the groups stated in the letter.
U.S. poultry exports to the EU have not been permitted since 1997. If the EU was an eligible market for U.S. poultry, it is estimated annual poultry exports would top $300 million.