Bridges Trade BioRes • Volume 4 • Number 13 • 8th July 2004
WTO Panel Delays Proceedings in Biotech Dispute
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The WTO panel examining the US-Argentina-Canada complaint against the EU’s de facto moratorium on the approval of new genetically modified organisms (see BRIDGES Trade BioRes, 28 May 2004) has delayed the next step in the proceedings by about a month, pushing the second panel session to the middle of September. The delay could be even longer (mid-October or early November) if the panel grants the EU’s request to set up an expert panel to examine technical issues related to the case. Parties now have until 19 July to submit rebuttals in the case and until 22 July to comment on the need for an expert group. The US has already told the panel that it did not consider the establishment of a panel necessary. The timing of the interim and the final rulings remained unclear in view of the revised schedule. The delay in the GM case follows the announcement last week that the panel examining the EU-sugar case will need more time to provide a ruling (see BRIDGES Weekly, 30 June 2004).
ICTSD reporting.
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