US import warning is one of the topics at the WTO meeting

China’s concerns over an import warning from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) were one of six new issues discussed at a recent meeting of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Delegates at the June meeting of the WTO Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures addressed trade issues related to food safety and animal and plant health.

Members discussed 53 specific trade issues, including six for the first time. Topics included animal diseases, delays in authorization processes, melamine contamination and maximum residue limits (MRLs) in foods.

Concerns were also expressed about the European Union’s actions on pesticide residues, contaminants, endocrine disruptors and veterinary medicines.

China has raised the US FDA import alert 99-30 regarding the detention of dairy products and melamine testing. Thanks to consultations, China had withdrawn this trade issue during a committee meeting in March.

The European Union has addressed Colombia’s import restrictions due to African swine fever. While India, Paraguay and Colombia were dissatisfied with the EU’s non-renewal of the active substance thiacloprid. Another new problem was the import restrictions on food products in Chinese Taipei.

Topics from the past

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), African swine fever (ASF) and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) continued to receive attention. Saudi Arabia has lifted the remaining EU import bans imposed over BSE.

Russian representatives again discussed European delays in renewing licenses for fishing companies and fish products and South African delays in granting access for poultry, beef, pork, fish and seafood.

Officials from Chile expressed dissatisfaction with the United States’ excessive delays in publishing import requirements for table grapes, while Argentina and Brazil highlighted U.S. delays in authorizing sweet citrus fruits.

Japanese officials discussed why China, Hong Kong and Russia should lift import restrictions on some products following the introduction of water treated through the Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) in Fukushima.

For the fifth time, Canada expressed frustration with China’s ban on Canadian beef imports following a case of atypical BSE in 2021.

The next meeting of the SPS Committee is scheduled for November 11 to 15, 2024. There will be events and thematic sessions on emerging risks, modern challenges and Codex Guidelines for Voluntary Third-Party Insurance Programs.

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