Report by the Secretariat (WT/TPR/S/249):III. TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE: (2) Measures Directly Affecting Imports: (vi) Import prohibitions, restrictions, and licensing: Page 53, paragraph 53:
The Secretariat report states that "For sanitary reasons, India has continued to ban imports of certain avian livestock and livestock products." Please explain how India's currently applied measures on avian influenza conform to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) guidelines on acceptable international measures for preventing the spread of this disease in commercial poultry trade.
Reply: OIE recognizes that epidemiology of Avian Influenza (AI) differs widely in different regions of the world. India's AI measures are based on scientific observations and available experience in India and around the world.
U.S. Follow-Up Question: India's response fails to make reference to specific OIE guidelines on avian influenza, and does not explain India's existing ban in light of those specific guidelines. Please explain how India's existing ban implements or differs from the specific OIE guidelines on avian influenza.
Reply: The FAO accepts that the Avian Influenza virus may jump species, geography and virulence, for reasons/factor yet not properly understood. India has recently requested OIE to review its guidelines on Avian Influenza related matter on the basis of recent scientific revelation.
