Several U.S. poultry companies and organizations applauded the recent action of the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to formally start proceedings before the World Trade Organization (WTO) challenging a major European Union (EU) restriction on U.S. poultry imports.

The U.S. considers the EU ban on U.S. poultry to violate several provisions of WTO law. The 12-year ban imposed non-tariff trade barriers on U.S. poultry. At issue is the use of four antimicrobials the EU's own scientific committees have determined to be safe, says the National Chicken Council, USA Poultry & Egg Export Council and the National Turkey Federation.