June 17, 2008

US may sue EU at the WTO for banning chlorinated chicken

The US may sue the EU at the WTO after the latter's veterinary experts voted against a proposal to lift the ban on importing chlorinated chicken from the US.

The ban has been in place for 10 years due to health concerns about anti-microbial agents used by US processors.

Washington has been expressing frustration with the ban and considers it a test case for the Transatlantic Economic Council, which it set up in 2007 with Brussels to improve trade and business between the two economies.

The EU's commissioner for enterprise and industry, Guenter Verheugen of Germany, has proposed lifting the ban. The Standing Committee of Food Chain and Animal Health, however, voted against the lifting of the ban.