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Russia to decide on appeal against WTO decision on Europe’s pork supplies in fall

The decision will be made after Russia explores the situation in more detail

SCHETINKA SETTLEMENT (Kursk Region), August 22. /TASS/. Russia will resolve the issue of its appeal against the WTO decision regarding European pork supplies to the country in the second half of September, Economic Development Minister Aleksey Ulyukayev said Monday.

"We’re going to explore the situation in more detail with experts and I think we’ll be prepared to take this step," he said when asked whether the Russian Federation will take an appeal against the WTO decision on EU’s pork imports to Russia, and added that the decision will not be made "earlier than mid-September."

On August 19, the panel of arbiters of the World trade Organization (WTO) found that the restrictions that Russia had introduced on imports of pork and live pigs from the EU countries due to an outbreak of ASF for the period from January to September of 2014, were illegal. In April 2014, the European Union filed a lawsuit to the WTO against Russia over the restrictive measures.

According to the WTO, the limitations imposed by Russia on imports of live pigs, pork and pork products from the EU countries are not based on the OIE standards and are thus inconsistent with Russia's obligation to base its SPS measures on international standards. Each party has 60 days to file an appeal.