US to discuss poultry issue with EU this month 

In a trip to Brussels later this month, US Trade Representative Ron Kirk is expected to discuss access for US poultry exports into the EU.

 

Kirk said that his priorities in Brussels will be to discuss the poultry dispute and get acquainted with newly confirmed EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht.

 

Kirk will be in Brussels March 24-27, and will also meet with EU Health and Consumer Policy Commissioner John Dalli and EU Agriculture Commissioner Dacian Ciolos, one source said. A US trade official said the trip is still coming together and "things are changing daily," but declined to provide more specifics on his meetings.

 

The US has already initiated legal proceedings under the World Trade Organisation on the poultry issue due to its belief that the current EU ban on poultry imports treated with chlorine washes is not scientifically justified. The use of chlorine washes to cleanse poultry is a widespread industry practice in the US.

 

Several EU sources said they were surprised that Kirk publicly mentioned poultry as a priority, and speculated that ongoing negotiations between the US and Russia on access for US poultry exports could open the door for talks on a negotiated solution between the US and the EU on that same topic.

 

They pointed out that the US and Russia are discussing whether Russia could allow imports of poultry treated with non-chlorine anti-microbial treatments, and wondered if the EU could be convinced to agree to similar measures for poultry. Currently, the EU only allows poultry to be washed with potable water.

 

These sources said they were unaware of any US plans to urge the EU to approve whatever measures may be approved for use in Russia. In addition, one source said the European Commission was not gearing up yet for any negotiations on this topic. At the same time, these sources argued that it would be convenient for US exporters to seek approval for the use of the same washes in the EU and Russia.

 

These EU sources added, however, that one stumbling block for approval of any washes in the EU is the fact that the EU has long emphasised the importance of ensuring cleanliness at each stage of the production process. Approval of cleaning washes for poultry at the end of the process, therefore, may be resisted for fear of undermining this emphasis.

 

In addition, US poultry industry sources doubted that the possible deal in Russia could lead to a potential negotiated solution in the EU, although they said they would welcome that development.

 

These industry sources pointed out that the EU has not approved any washes despite a 2005 finding from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) that the use of four washes -- chlorine dioxide, trisodium phosphate, acidified sodium chloride and peroxyacids -- poses no threat to human health.