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- the variety testing case
Official name: | Japan — Measures Affecting Agricultural Products (WT/DS76) |
Parties: |
Complainant: United States Respondent: Japan Third Parties: Brazil, EC, Hungary |
Under dispute: | Japan’s requirement to test each variety of certain agricultural products (apples, cherries, peaches, walnuts, apricots, pears, plums and quinces) for the efficacy of treatment against codling moths. This is a pest that does not occur in Japan, and whose introduction has the potential to cause serious damage. The United States claimed that it was not necessary to test each variety of a fruit for the efficacy of the treatment, and that this varietal testing requirement was unnecessarily burdensome. |
Panel: |
Mr. Kari Bergholm, Chairman (Finland) Mr. Germain Denis (Canada) Mr. Eirikur Einarsson (Iceland) |
Experts consulted: |
Dr. Neil Heather, Entomologist, University of Queensland,
Corinda, Australia Dr. Patrick Ducom, Fumigation Expert, Lormont, France Mr. Robert Taylor, Fumigation Specialist, Natural Resources Institute, Chatham, United Kingdom |
Calendar: |
Panel established: 18 November 1997 Panel report issued: 27 October 1998 Appellate Body report issued: 22 February 1999 Reports adopted by DSB: 19 March 1999 Mutually agreed deadline for implementation: 31 December 1999 Mutually agreed solution announced in September 2001. |
Variety Testing — the findings at a glance Measure at issue: Japan’s requirement to test each variety of certain agricultural products (apples, cherries, peaches, walnuts, apricots, pears, plums and quinces) for the efficacy of treatment against codling moths. The United States claimed that it was not necessary to test each variety of a fruit for the efficacy of the treatment. Panel findings:
Appellate Body findings:
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