A special panel at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) said on Friday 19 August that the Russian embargo on imports of live pig, pork and other pork products from the European Union was unlawful under international trade rules. In early 2014, Russia introduced a health embargo after cases of African swine fever appeared in areas of the EU close to the border with Belarus. On 22 July 2014, the WTO’s dispute settlement body set up a special panel upon request from the EU. In its conclusions, the WTO’s special panel explains that it has noted that the ban at EU level and bans on EU member states were incompatible with the agreement on the application of sanitary and phytosanitary measures. The experts say that by not establishing these measures based on a risk assessment, Russia was not able to take account of relevant economic factors. The special panel adds that in 2014, the EU showed Russia that it had areas of its territory, outside Estonia, Latvia and Poland, that were exempt from African swine fever and therefore the EU-wide ban, and the bans on imports of the products in question from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, were incompatible with WTO rules. The two sides now have 60 days in which to appeal. If no appeals are made within this time, the report will be adopted and Russia will be required to comply with the recommendation.
EU satisfied that it has won its case. In a press release published on Friday, the EU says it has won its case and the decision by the WTO panel sends a strong signal to Russia about the duty to respect international standards, particularly the principle of regionalisation (which allows trade with various regions of a country recognised as exempt from parasites or diseases, even if the health situation in the rest of the country is not good) and the duty to carry out a risk assessment based on scientific data. The European Commission concludes that the decision adopted on Friday confirms that the measures taken by Russia against the EU have little relationship with real health risks. EU products are safe and there is therefore no reason for a country to maintain unjustified restrictions on imports. In a press release, France hopes that the WTO verdict will swiftly translate into the restoration of trade with Russia in a sector that is an important economic outlet for France. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)