EU Conditions for U.S. Poultry Exports ‘Unnecessary’

WASHINGTON ¯ The European Commission’s issuance of its final draft proposal of conditions required to regain EU approval of U.S. poultry imports last week represent a negotiating sticking point according to U.S. trade associations representing the poultry industry.

By making this trade issue a priority agenda item for the Transatlantic Economic Council, it is apparent that top government officials believe resolution is possible, said a joint statement by USA Poultry & Egg Export Council, National Turkey Federation and National Chicken Council. The proposed E.C. regulation issued last week on U.S. poultry imports contains several conditions, mainly governing the application and use of acceptable anti-microbial/pathogen reduction treatments in poultry processing. The regulation contains provisions requiring carcasses treated with a P.R.T. to undergo a rinse, and a requirement for product receiving such treatments to be labeled.

“(We) are very disappointed in the EU’s draft regulation and believe that these conditions are unnecessary and unacceptable," the statement said. "Further, the conditions under which U.S. poultry could be exported to the EU are essentially unchanged from those discussed by both sides four years ago. As written, the regulation renders any progress in gaining access to the EU effectively meaningless.”

The EU approved the use of several P.R.T.s, in earlier discussions on access to the EU for U.S. poultry, as alternatives to chlorinated water, which is widely used in the U.S. and has been shown to be safe and effective, but is prohibited by the EU

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