Source:  Tom Johnston, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 10/26/09

The European Union has blocked the United States' request to have the World Trade Organization determine if the EU's ban on imports of U.S. poultry violates global trade regulations, according to a report by Bloomberg.

However, WTO rules would prohibit the EU from preventing a second request by the United States, which is likely to be made in November, the report said.

The United States filed a complaint against the EU's ban in January, disputing the EU claim that the use of pathogen-reducing treatments poses a health risk. On Oct. 8, U.S. officials said they would seek a ruling from the WTO.