EU wants WTO intervention in Australian quarantine dispute
AFP, Geneva
The European Union formally asked the World Trade Organisation on Thursday to set up a panel of experts to rule on its simmering trade dispute with Australia on quarantine measures restricting imports of food products. The first request for a disputes settlement panel was deferred for about a month under WTO rules after Australia opposed the EU's demand. EU trade ambassador Carlo Trojan told a meeting of the WTO's Dispute Settlement Body that the 15-nation trading bloc regarded the extent of the Australian measures as contrary to WTO rules. "As a result of that very broad prohibition, combined with the procedures and criteria for granting import permits, a number of agricultural products from member states of the EU have been denied access to the Australian market," Trojan said. The EU cited a range of agricultural products ranging from live animals to meat, seeds and vegetables. It has repeatedly claimed the Australian checks are not based on a scientific evaluation of health or veterinary concerns. Brussels had already signalled the move in August, following the failure of talks with Australia to resolve the issue "over a number of years", according to Trojan. In a first reaction, Australia rejected the accusations and maintained that its quarantine system met international obligations.
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