India has challenged a World
Trade Organisation (WTO) ruling against a ban on US poultry imports as
scientifically invalid. India had banned these imports on fears that they could
result in spread of the bird flu.
“Our representatives in
Geneva have filed an appeal with the WTO against its ruling on our poultry
import restrictions on January 26, which was in fact the last date for doing
so,” a Commerce Ministry officials quoted in a newspaper.
Report further added that over
four lakh poultry farmers in India, who produce an estimated 3.5 million tonnes
of chicken every year, could be hit if imports from the US are allowed.
Domestic breeders fear that cheap chicken legs from the US could eat up at
least 40 per cent of their market share.
The US had dragged India to
the WTO last year claiming that the restrictions being imposed by India on
poultry imports were on unscientific basis.
In October, a WTO panel ruled
that India’s import curbs on farm products, including poultry, from the US on
fears that “low-intensity” bird flu can affect public health, were not in line
with multilateral trade rules.
Risk assessment could be done
on factors such as US poultry being fed genetically modified food or the fact
that frozen chicken is kept in that state for long periods, the official said.
