March 12, 2012

After Washington launched action at the World Trade Organisation to open the South Asian nation's market, India, on Friday (Mar 9) promised to explain the reasons for its ban on US poultry imports.

India has barred imports of US poultry meat and eggs since 2007 in order to prevent the spread of avian flu but Washington calls the ban "unjustified."

"We will have consultations (with the US) Department of Animal Husbandry which will explain to them why we have imposed those restrictions," Indian Commerce Secretary Rahul Khullar told reporters in New Delhi.

Earlier this week, US Trade Representative Ron Kirk said the US was seeking consultations under World Trade Organisation rules over the ban.

In a statement, his office said India justified the ban as vital to prevent the spread of avian influenza, or "bird flu," "but it has not provided scientific evidence in line with international standards on avian-influenza control."

"India's ban on US poultry is clearly a case of disguising trade restrictions by invoking unjustified animal health concerns," Kirk said in the statement.

The growth of India's middle class has boosted demand for poultry products in the country and the US, the world's second-largest exporter of poultry products after Brazil, is keen to be able to sell its goods there.