The World Trade Organization agreed with U.S. complaints and ruled that India’s restrictions on imports of hogs, poultry meat and chicken eggs violate world trade rules. The restrictions, imposed in 2007, were defended as safeguards against avian influenza. A WTO dispute panel found six reasons why they were not. It said India’s limits did not comply with international rules on animal health and were not based on a risk assessment and were “significantly more trade-restrictive” than justified, among other reasons.
U.S. trade representative Michael Froman said in a statement the ruling showed the United States was right “that India lacks any scientific basis to restrict U.S. agricultural products.” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said the government now will press India to remove the barriers. India has the right to appeal the decision, which can take 90 days for a decision. Poultry meat exports to India could exceed $300 million a year according to an industry estimate cited by Froman’s office.
Two poultry industry groups, the National Chicken Council and USA Poultry and Egg Export Council said in a joint statement the WTO ruling “is an important step” toward sales to India, which they estimated might buy 2.6 million tonnes of poultry meat a year.