WORLD TRADE G/SPS/GEN/19
23June1997
ORGANIZATION(97-2603)
Original: English Committee onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures
VENEZUELA ’SBAN ONIMPORTED POULTRY
AND POULTRY PRODUCTS
Submission bytheUnited States fortheMeeting on1-2July1997
Introduction
1. In1993, Venezuela published aresolution prohibiting theimportation ofUSpoultry andpoultry
products, purportedly because routine surveillance in1992-93 detected exposure toavian influenza
(AI)insome limited backyard flocks andmarkets inthenortheastern United States. In1997, this
resolution wasamended toprohibit these importations from anycountry reporting AI.
2. USpoultry issafe. Since Venezuela ’sbanwasimplemented in1993, theUnited States has
exported millions ofpounds ofpoultry meatandmillions ofhatching eggsandday-old chicks worldwide
without incident. Poultry meatisnotknown tobeapathway fortransmitting AI.
3. Itisnoteworthy thatArgentina, PeruandColombia lifted theirAIrestrictions (imposed in
1992-93) afterassessing thehealth riskintheUnited States inlightofsitevisitsandscientific information
provided bytheUSgovernment andUSpoultry producers.
Available Scientific Evidence/Relevant International Standards
4. Venezuela continues todisregard scientific evidence anddatawhich demonstrates thattheUnited
States isfreeofpathogenic AI.Inthespring of1993, theUSgovernment invited Venezuelan animal
health officials toconduct sitevisits toassess thestatus ofAIinthemid-Atlantic States. Federal and
State officials, aswellasdiagnosticians, pointed outtoveterinary officials from Venezuela thatAI
occurs worldwide, andexplained thedifferences between non-pathogenic strains andhighly pathogenic
strains ofthevirus.
5. Venezuela ’sbanonUSpoultry fortheostensible purpose ofguarding against AIisinconsistent
withtheOffice international desépizooties (OIE) Code which addresses highly pathogenic strains of
AI(i.e.,Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza -HPAI). TheOIE,asdoesmostoftheworld, distinguishes
between thenon-pathogenic strains ofAIandthepathogenic strains. Non-pathogenic strains ofAI
arenotconsidered bytheOIEtobeanexotic disease which presents significant health riskstonational
poultry flocks andtherefore warrant veterinary controls. TheUnited States doesnothaveHPAI as
defined bytheOIE.
6. The1992-93 AIdetections inthenortheastern United States, which gaverisetoVenezuela ’s
ban,were non-pathogenic strains. According totheOIE, "virus ofapathogenicity sufficient tobe
designated fowlplague willcause atleast75percentmortality" (OIECode, Chapter 2.1.14. Definition
andOIEManual ofStandards, Chapter 14).Isolated virusfromthe1992detections (isolated inbackyard
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andlive-bird markets incertain states) didnotcause illness when itwasinoculated intosusceptible
chickens. TheUSDepartment ofAgriculture Animal andPlant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
testingwasdoneinaccordancewiththerelevantOIEdiagnosticstandards(Chapter14oftheOIEManual
ofStandards forDiagnostic Tests andVaccines). These inoculations didnotresult inmortality and
were performed inaccordance withOIEtesting standards.
7. APHIS, incooperation withstateauthorities, conducts surveillance forAI.Surveillance is
anessential element foranycountry withagood veterinary infrastructure. Ouractive surveillance
demonstrates thatUSpoultry exports arefreeofpathogenic AI.
8. TheUnited States believes thatAIispresent inVenezuela because Venezuela iswithin aknown
migration pathformigrating waterfowl. Waterfowl andothermigratory birdsarewellknown reservoirs
foravian influenza. Weareunaware ofanynational surveillance programme inplace inVenezuela
todetect andmonitor AIinitspoultry flocks.
Preliminary Assessment inLight ofWTO Obligations
9. Asshown above, Venezuela ’smeasure failstotakeintoaccount relevant OIEstandards,
particularly OIEguidelines related tohighly pathogenic AI.Furthermore, Venezuela hasnotprovided
orpublished thescientific riskassessment which would support itscurrent import ban. Poultry meat
isnotknown tobeameans fortransmitting AI.TheUnited States hasfacilitated access byVenezuelan
officials topoultry producing areasintheUnited States toverify poultry health conditions andquarantine
practices, aswellasprovided relevant scientific information toVenezuelan veterinary authorities.
Venezuela maintains abanonUSpoultry despite theevidence demonstrating thesafety ofUSpoultry
exports.
10. Venezuela ’scontinued banonimported USpoultry products raises anumber ofserious concerns
withrespect toWTO requirements, including those setoutintheSPSAgreement. Weurgethe
Government ofVenezuela tobring thismeasure intoconformity withinternational obligations assoon
aspossible.