WTO panel to rule on EU-US poultry dispute

Following the request on the 8 October 2009 by the United States for the establishment of a WTO panel to rule on EU hygiene legislation on the processing and sale of poultry, the European Commission responded:

'We regret that the United States has decided to ask for a panel to be established in this case. We feel that litigation is not the most appropriate way to deal with complex issues such as this one. However, since the US has chosen this path, we will defend our food safety legislation, which does not discriminate against imported products.'

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Poultry import dispute endangers trade forum http://www.europeansources.info/record/poultry-import-dispute-endangers-trade-forum/

European Commission: DG Trade: Press Release, 8.10.09: EU regrets U.S. request for WTO panel on treatment of poultry http://ec.europa.eu/trade/issues/respectrules/dispute/pr091009_en.htm

WTO: Dispute Settlement http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/dispu_e.htm

US: Congressional Research Service: U.S.-EU Poultry Dispute, 2009- http://opencrs.com/document/R40199/

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