WT/DS 475/16  
 
13 December 2017  
(17-6863) Page: 1/2 
  Original: English  
 
 RUSSIAN FEDERATION – MEASURES ON THE IMPO RTATION OF LIVE PIGS , 
PORK AND OTHER PIG P RODUCTS FROM THE EUR OPEAN UNION  
COMMUNICATION FROM THE RUSSIAN FEDERATI ON 
The following communication, dated 8 December 2017 , was received from the delegation of the 
Russia n Federation  with the request that it be circulated to the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB).  
 
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On 21 March 2017 the Dispute Settlement Body ( "DSB") adopted the Appellate Body report and 
the Panel report, as modified by the Appellate Body repor t, in the dispute  Russian Federation — 
Measures on the Importation of Live Pigs, Pork and Other Pig Products from the European Union  
(DS475) . 
We recall that the adjudicators recommended the Russian Federation to bring a number of 
challenged measures in con formity with the provisions of the Agreement on Sanitary and 
Phytosanitary Measures ( "SPS Agreement "). 
Pursuant to Article 21.3(b) of the Dispute Settlement Understanding ( "DSU") the Russian 
Federation and the European Union agreed on the reasonable period  of time to implement the 
DSB's recommendations and rulings in this dispute that expired on 6 December 2017.  
Russia would like to inform the DSB that it has taken appropriate steps to comply with the DSB 's 
recommendations and rulings in this dispute within  the reasonable period of time agreed by the 
parties. To this end, the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance 
("Rosselkhoznadzor ") issued Directive ( "the Letter ") of 5 December 2017 No. FS -NV-7/26504 that 
addresses all measures found  to be inconsistent with the WTO obligations of the Russian 
Federation in this dispute as set out below.  
First, Russia resumes importation of live pigs, pork meat and raw meat preparations from the 
entire territory of the EU and its Member States, excludi ng ASF affected territories. The list of ASF 
affected territories is set out in the Annex to the Letter. Consequently, the Russian Federation has 
brought the measures related to importation of products in question from the entire territory of the 
EU (so ca lled "EU-wide ban ") into conformity with its WTO obligations.  
Secondly, the Letter removes restrictions imposed in 2014 on the imports of the products at issue 
from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland found by the Panel to b e inconsistent with certain 
WTO obligations, allowing such imports with the exclusion of a number of ASF affected 
administrative territories set out in the Annex to the Letter.  
Thirdly, the Russian Federation fully implemented DSB 's recommendations and rulings concerning 
Article 6 of the SPS Agreement by adapting its SPS measures to the sanitary and phytosanitary 
characteristics of the area of the exporting Members (the EU and its Member States). In particular, 
as it was mentioned above, Rosselkhoznadzor has approved the list of ASF af fected administrative 
territories. The territories of the EU Member States not listed in the Annex to the Letter are 
recognized for the regionalization purposes as ASF -free areas. In case of evolution of the epidemic 
situation within the EU Member States ' territories, the list could be amended respectively.  WT/DS475/16  
 
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  Finally, with respect to the measures related to treated pork products from Estonia, Lithuania, 
Latvia and Poland Russia brought them into compliance with its WTO obligations by allowing 
importation of s uch products from the territories of the E U Member States affected by 
ASF provided that the requirements of Chapter 15.1 of the OIE Code are fully complied with. These 
requirements are specified in the Annex to the Letter.  
In addition, for transparency pur poses, Russia has informed the EU and other WTO Members on 
the steps taken to comply with DSB 's recommendations and rulings through the WTO SPS 
Notification Submission System. The Letter was delivered to the EU 's competent  authority.  
Therefore, by having taken the above mentioned steps Russia fully implemented the DSB 's rulings 
and recommendations in this dispute, as required by Article 19.1 of the DSU.  
 
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