Reply: The question appears to bebased only one or two isolated cases of August 2011 (as mentioned in questions 7 and 8 above). Further, it will be helpful if any holdup of consignments for unreasonable period of time is brought to the notice of FSSAI for timely and necessary corrective action.
Australia 10:
REPORT BY WTO SECRETARIAT (WT/TPR/S/249): III TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE: (2) MEASURES DIRECTLY AFFECTING IMPORTS: (x) Sanitary and phytosanitary measures
Australia notes that India seeks to apply uniform measures to all trading partners in relation to the importation of animal and animal products. Australia notes that this approach does not take into consideration differences in the pest and disease status of individual trading partners, nor does it allow trading partners to offer alternative measures to address the potential risk of imported product, and thus may not be the least trade restrictive measure for trading partners which are free from pest and diseases of concern. Australia notes that in relation to the importation of plants and plant products, India does consider regional differences or alternative measures which facilitate trade in plants and plant products.
Could India please describe how it will facilitate the development of measures which will take into account alternative means of addressing sanitary measures for the importation of animals and animal products in the least trade restrictive manner as is implemented for plants and plant products?
Reply: Sanitary import permit is issued on the basis of internationally recognised scientific principles of risk analysis. The analysis is conducted with reference to the specific product and the disease situation prevailing in the exporting country vis à vis the disease situation in India and is least trade restrictive.
