WTO to Investigate India

The World Trade Organization will investigate and decide if Indian restrictions on U.S. poultry meat and eggs break global commerce rules. India says its ban on imports of various U.S. farm products is needed to prevent the spread of low-pathogenic avian influenza. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative accuses India of ignoring scientific evidence. The U.S. Poultry and Egg Export Council has called India’s restrictions protectionist policy that is inconsistent with accepted international standards and has no health or safety justification. In fact – according to USDA – low-pathogenic bird flu causes minor illness, poses no risk to human health and sometimes manifests no clinical signs. The Council estimates the value of poultry-product exports to India could exceed 300-million dollars a year.