India Considers Challenge to WTO over US Poultry Decision

03/12/2014 12:00 - 494 Views

India is reported to be considering a challenge to the recent World Trade Organisation (WTO) panel ruling over imports of US poultry meat.

India is likely to challenge a WTO panel's ruling which had described the country's ban on American poultry product imports as inconsistent with global norms, reports Economic Times of India.

The Department of Commerce is working on the feasibility of filing an appeal against the WTO's panel report in consultation with the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, sources said.

In its ruling on 14 October, the WTO panel had said that India's measures are arbitrarily and unjustifiably discriminate between Members where identical or similar conditions prevail and are applied in a manner which constitutes a disguised restriction on international trade.

India has 60 days to appeal before the Appellate Body of the WTO against the decision of the dispute settlement panel.

In March 2012, the US had dragged India to the WTO against India's ban on imports of certain American farm products, including poultry meat and eggs, adds the Economic Times. India had banned imports of various agricultural products from the US in 2007, as a precautionary measure to prevent outbreaks of Avian Influenza in the country.

India is one of the potential market for the US which is one of the world's largest exporter of chicken meat.

According to a report, India's broiler meat consumption is increasing and may touch 3.72 million tonnes in 2014 from 3.45 million tonnes in 2013.

India and the US are also engaged in consultations on another dispute at the WTO with regard to New Delhi's solar mission plan.

Source: foodprocessingbazaar.com