Source:  Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLAC.COM, 1/12/10

The American poultry industry has urged U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk to pursue a World Trade Organization action against European Union rules that ban poultry processed using chlorinated water, effectively blocking U.S. poultry from the European market.

"The injustice against U.S. poultry has continued for far too long, and it is time to begin to correct that injustice," the presidents of the National Chicken Council, National Turkey Federation and USA Poultry & Egg Export Council told Kirk's agency in a letter. "(We) encourage USTR to fully and resolutely pursue the dispute settlement process," they wrote.

U.S. poultry that has been processed using chlorinated water to help control potentially pathogenic microorganisms is considered safe and effective by U.S. authorities. The industry estimates that the policy prevents it from developing a market in Europe worth about $240 million for chicken and $60 million for turkey and duck.

The European Food Safety Agency and the EU's Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks and the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health cleared the way in 2008 for approval of the use of four pathogen-reducing treatments: chlorine dioxide, acidified sodium chlorite, trisodium phosphate, and peroxyacids.

The European Commission tentatively approved the use of the PRTs but was overruled by representatives of national governments. USTR subsequently announced that it would file an action under the WTO dispute resolution process.

For more stories, go to www.meatingplace.com.