WORLD TRADE G/SPS/GEN/18
23June1997
ORGANIZATION(97-2602)
Original: English Committee onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures
FRENCH RESTRICTIONS ONPETFOOD IMPORTS
AND THE SPSAGREEMENT
Submission bytheUnited States fortheMeeting on1-2July1997
Introduction
1. InSeptember 1996, France adopted newrequirements forpetfoodproduction, restricting
theuseofcertain animal products orproteins. Theprovisions prohibit theuseofcertain “highrisk”
material. Specifically, theFrench regulation states thatthefollowing material could notbeusedin
themanufacture ofpetfood:
- high riskmaterial asmentioned inparagraphs a,b,c,d,h,i,jofEC
Directive 90/667/EC Article 3;
- animals affected withtransmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) ortheirparts;
- brain tissue, spinal cord, andeyesofbovines agedmore than6months andovines
orcaprines agedmore than1year.
2. Theregulation requires thatmanufacturers exclude materials fromtherendering process that
arecommonly considered safebyrenderers.
3. TheFrench regulation hasstopped allUSpetfoodexports toFrance. InDecember 1996,
theEuropean Union adopted decisions permitting countries tousealternative heattreatment systems
fornon-mammalian material usedintheproduction ofnon-mammalian (e.g.poultry) protein meal.
French implementation oftheEUdecisions would permit petfoodmade frompoultry mealtoenter,
thusrestoring 80percent ofUSpetfoodtradewithFrance. However, France hasrefused toimplement
these decisions.
4. Since September, USDA hasraised itsconcerns withtheFrench Ministry ofAgriculture in
Parisnumerous times atthetechnical levelandinaletter fromSecretary Glickman toMinister Vasseur.
France hasnotprovided theUnited States withinformation regarding thescientific basis forthe
restrictions.
Available Scientific Evidence/Relevant International Standards
5. Theobjective oftheFrench regulation wasostensibly toaddress theriskofTSE. However,
theUnited States isfreeofbovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) andhasoffered guarantees that
nospecies infected withTSEwould beusedinpetfoodproduction. Moreover, there arenoknown
spongiform encephalopathies inpoultry orfish. IfFrance ’sintent withrespect tonon-mammalian
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protein wastoguard against thetransmission ofotherriskagents, France hasnotidentified those agents.
Therefore, theUnited States questions France ’sscientific basis forFrance ’sregulation.
6. There isnospecific international standard forpetfood. However, various standards forthe
animal health basisofmaterial which would beincluded inpetfooddoexist. Ofthese, themostrelevant,
inthiscase,would betheOffice international desépizooties (OIE) Zoosanitary Code Chapter onBSE,
since thatistheriskagent identified byFrance. Thisstandard onlyreferences rendered material
containing ruminant protein originating incountries withahighincidence ofBSE, stating thatsuch
material should notbetraded. Allother material, especially non-mammalian material, isacceptable
under thisstandard.
Preliminary Assessment inLight ofWTO Obligations
7. France ’sbanonimported petfoodraises anumber ofserious concerns withrespect toWTO
obligations, including those setoutintheSPSAgreement. Thismeasure isnotbased onscientific
evidence orriskassessment. France hasnotdemonstrated thescientific principle underlying the
restriction ofnon-mammalian material asaprotective measure against TSEoranyother riskfactor.
Totheextent thatthebanisintended toaddress concerns withTSE, itisalsonotbased onrelevant,
recently updated OIEstandards, recommendations, andguidelines. France hasprovided noexplanation
foritsrejection ofthese elements oftheOIECode. Finally, although thismeasure appears tofall
within themeaning ofAnnex BoftheSPSAgreement, ithasnotbeennotified totheWTO.