Press Release: WTO and agriculture: ‘No disguised protectionism via precautionary principle’, says EU

At a Special Session meeting of the WTO Committee on Agriculture, held in Geneva from 23-27 July 2001, the European Union (EU) demonstrated its commitment to move the WTO agricultural negotiations forward, by tabling two further contributions on important topics under debate, namely export credits and food safety. In the debate on export credits, the EU recalled its willingness to negotiate further reductions on export subsidies, but only on condition that all forms of export competition measures are treated on an equal footing. An EU paper presented to the WTO Committee outlined how disciplines on export credits could be effectively incorporated into a new Agreement on Agriculture. On food safety, the EU made the point that while there can be no compromise on food safety for consumers, there is a need for clarification of the precautionary principle to ensure its correct application, to avoid disguised protectionism and to minimise the risk of WTO disputes.

European Commission: DG Trade: Creating opportunities: Economic sectors: Agriculture http://ec.europa.eu/trade/creating-opportunities/economic-sectors/agriculture/

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