25.03.2008

The European Union - USA

The European Union is being urged by its industry commissioner to end its import ban on U.S. poultry.
The EU in 1997 prohibited the importation of product treated with chlorinated water, saying that chlorine used in this capacity posed a human health risk. The European Food Safety Authority is expected to release a report on the matter in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, a new Foreign Agricultural Service GAIN report said that the European Union will likely become a net importer of broiler meat in 2008. Exports are expected to decline in 2008 when compared with 2007, and broiler imports are expected to increase, the report said.
Broiler imports are expected to be 650,000 metric tones this year, while 620,000 tons are expected in exports from the EU. According to the report, EU broiler exports are being hampered by Brazil's increasing market share in the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa as well as the rising value of the euro.