. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/GEN/123/Add.4
30 June 2000
(00-2706)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
DIOXIN CONTAMINATION OF CERTAIN ANIMAL PRODUCTS INTENDED
FOR HUMAN OR ANIMAL CONSUMPTION
Supplementary Information from the European Communities
Addendum
In April 2000, nearly a year after the beginning of the Belgian dioxin crisis, all remaining
restrictions on Belgian products were lifted following detailed investigation and analysis of the
various products.  Any possible contaminated products have been destroyed.
1. On 18 April 2000 the European Commission adopted Commission Decision 2000/301/EC,
repealing Commission Decision 1999/788/EC of 3 December 1999 as amended by Commission
Decision 2000/150/EC of 22 February 2000 and lifting the remaining protective measures in force
related to the Belgian dioxin contamination which occurred in January 1999.  The Decision was
adopted following unanimous favourable vote in the Standing Veterinary Committee and published in
the Official Journal of the European Communities n° L 97 of 19 April 2000.
2. The Decision signals the end of EC restrictions on Belgian products in relation to the Belgian
dioxin crisis.  All products previously under restriction according to the various Commission
Decisions adopted since June 1999 to protect public and animal health within the European
Communities and in third countries may now circulate freely within the European Communities and
be exported to third countries, without any additional certification.
3. The Decision to lift the last restrictions was taken after the Belgian authorities informed the
European Commission that the identification and investigation of all the stocks of products still under
restriction, i.e. products derived from pigs a nd poultry slaughtered before 20 September 1999, had
been completed.  All products found to be contaminated as a result of the investigation have been
placed under restriction and are in the process of being destroyed.
4. Copies of Commission Decision 2000/ 301/EC (available in all EC languages) can be obtained
from the EC SPS Enquiry Point, or on the EUR-Lex site (http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex).
5. Since the contamination was reported to the Commission in late May 1999, the European
Commission has introduced a total of 12 Decisions to safeguard public and animal health within the
European Communities and in third countries, adju sting the measures as scientific investigation
gradually unveiled the extent of the contamination.
6. Throughout the dioxin crisis, the European Communities has consistently applied the
principles of precaution and transparency in its actions.  The measures have been gradually relaxed
only after intensive scientific investigation, including an extensive programme for testing and
certification in the various sectors, applying the strict levels set by the European Communities for
dioxin- and PCB-tolerance.G/SPS/GEN/123/Add.4
Page 2
7. Third countries have been informed of the im plications of EC action through information
notes G/SPS/GEN/123 and Add. 1-3 issued through the SPS Secretariat, and through the statements
made by the European Communities to the SPS Committee in July 1999 and in March 2000.  In
addition, a series of information meetings to which all third country missions in Brussels were invited
have been held by the European Commission in Brussels, and information notes have been sent to allthird country missions in Brussels whenever new information allowed for a revision of the protective
measures.
8. In general, third countries, including WTO Members, have adjusted their protective measures
according to the Decisions adopted by the European Communities.
9. The European Communities remains concerned, however, that a number of third countries
including WTO Members, continue to apply import restrictions related to the contamination that
seriously disrupt trade with EC member States. So me WTO Members have notified such restrictions,
while other Members have applied restrictions without notifying them to the WTO.
10. In WTO Document G/SPS/GEN/123/Add.3, published on 9 March 2000, a list of
notifications to which the European Communities has sent written comments to seek clarification in
accordance with Article 5.8 of the SPS Agreement was included.  The enclosed list contains the
notifications to which the European Communities sent comments to which no reply has yet beenreceived.
Notification Date of issue Measure Date EC
Comments
G/SPS/N/COL/28 EM
Colombia20 October 1999 Suspension of imports
from Belgium, France,
Germany and the
Netherlands  of pigs,
poultry and derived
products, which represent
a risk of dioxin
contamination.31 January 2000
G/SPS/N/HUN/6 EM
Hungary8 July 1999 Ban on food products of
animal origin and animalfeed from France,
Germany and the
Netherlands .31 January 2000
G/SPS/N/PRY/1 EM
Paraguay19 August 1999 Import restrictions on
animals and animal
products from Belgium,
France and the
Netherlands .31 January 2000
11. In the light of the ample information made available as regards the background of the lifting
of the safeguard measures, the European Communities considers any import restrictions related to the
dioxin contamination unjustified and calls upon Members to adjust their measures to the latest
Commission Decision.
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