July 23, 2013

WTO to hear case of India's restriction on US poultry imports 

Due to unsettled disputes, the World Trade Organization (WTO) is set to hear the case on India's restrictions on US poultry and egg imports.

The decision of the panel will determine if India can continue restricting import of cheap chicken legs from the US, due to bird flu fears.

The hearing on July 24-25 will be followed by a second hearing at the end of the year, after which the panel will give its draft report. Once the draft report is discussed and argued by both sides, the panel will give its final judgement.

The US had disputed India's decision last year for banning poultry products on unscientific grounds. It had argued that the ban imposed on countries' reporting outbreaks of low pathogenic avian influenza had no basis in science and was not supported by the World Organisation for Animal Health.

While there is no ban on import of chicken or poultry products from the US at the moment, the ban could be implemented again if low-pathogen virus is detected in US farms. Due to the unpredictability of supply, Indian buyers are not willing to source US chicken despite the fact that it is available at less than half the domestic price.

India has argued that restrictions are crucial towards preventing the spread of avian influenza in India.