FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL SERVICE
U.S. MISSION TO THE EUROPEAN UNION

Last update:  July 3, 2008

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U.S. Poultry Exports to the EU

Pathogen reduction treatments (PRTs) to decontaminate poultry carcasses at the end of the slaughtering process have been approved by FDA and are common practice in the U.S. and other countries outside the EU.  In April 1997, the EU adopted measures which banned the use of PRTs, making it impossible for U.S. authorities to sign export certificates guaranteeing compliance with EU requirements.  As a result, U.S. poultry exports to the EU were blocked as of that date to the 15 Member States.  In the meantime, the accession of 12 new Member States has led to an additional annual  loss of U.S. poultry exports to the tune of $40-50 million, bringing the total U.S. poultry loss to an estimated loss of $220 million annually.  In the Veterinary Equivalency Agreement between the U.S. and the EU, signed in 1999, the EU committed to undertake a scientific study on PRTs.

In April 2008, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published an assessment in which it found that the four antimicrobial treatment substances used in the U.S. (chlorine dioxide, acidified sodium chlorite, trisodium phosphate and peroxy acids) do not represent a safety concern within the proposed conditions of use.  For more information see GAIN report E48040 "EU Scientific Opinions on Poultry PRTs show no drawbacks".

In a joint statement released after the second meeting of the U.S.-EU Transatlantic Economic Council (TEC) on May 13, 2008, the Commission committed to "propose changes to EU regulations that will allow the importation of poultry meat processed using PRTs, as well as the use of such treatments in EU Member States in the production of poultry meat for consumption in the EU.  Further, the Commission expressed its determination to find an agreed solution in this issue, working with Member States and the European Parliament, before the next TEC meeting, planned for autumn 2008."

A Commission proposal amending the EU's Food Hygiene Regulation to allow the use of PRTs, is expected to be put to the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health for vote at their July 15-16 meeting.  If the Committee issues a negative or no opinion, the proposal passes to the Council.  For more information on EU decision-making procedures see http://useu.usmission.gov/agri/institutions.html.

Reports

EP resolution calls for Council to reject EU Commission PRT proposal - GAIN Report E48067 (June 2008): On June 19, 2008 the European Parliament (EP) voted overwhelmingly in favor of a Resolution calling upon the European Council to reject a proposal from the European Commission (EC) to allow the use of PRTs on poultry. This vote came after a discussion on Tuesday June 17 between the EP with Commissioner for Food Safety and Public Health Vassiliou.

EC amends poultrymeat product standards and publishes a marketing proposal - GAIN Report E48066 (June 2008): The implementation of the Single Marketing Organization (CMO) Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 for poultry on July 1, 2008, is accompanied by the publication of the new Regulation (EC) No 543/2008 including updated detailed poultry product and labeling standards. The push in the Trans-Atlantic Economic Council (TEC) to end the EU's ban on U.S. poultrymeat, processed using a Pathogen Reduction Treatment (PRT), also triggered an amendment to the EU poultrymeat marketing Regulation. This proposal for the amendment of the Single Common Market Order Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 has now been published.

EU Scientific Opinions on Poultry PRT's show no drawbacks - GAIN Report E48040 (April 2008): On April 2, 2008, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published its assessment, titled "Assessment of the possible effect of the four antimicrobial treatment substances on the emergence of antimicrobial resistance." On April 3, the Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks (SCHER) and the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) published their joint opinion, titled "Environmental impact and effect on antimicrobial resistance of four substances used for the removal of microbial surface contamination of poultry carcasses." spacer

Analysis of US poultry meat trade with the EU: Past, present, future - GAIN Report E35166 (August, 2005): The US exports $2.2 billion of poultry meat per year, however none of those exports enter the EU-25. This report outlines some of the current and historical reasons for this. Web links and other sources are cited as appropriate.
 

 

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