WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/DS291/8
12 June 2003
(03-3038)
Original:  English
EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES – MEASURES AFFECTING THE APPROVAL
AND MARKETING OF BIOTECH PRODUCTS
Request to Join Consultations
Communication from Brazil
The following communication, dated 28 May 2003, from the Permanent Mission of Brazil to
the Permanent Delegation of the European Commission, the Permanent Mission of the United States
and to the Chairman of the Dispute Settlement Body, is circulated in accordance with Article 4.11 of
the DSU.
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I refer to the requests for consultations by the United States, Canada, and Argentina with
regard to certain measures taken by the European Communities and its member States affecting
products of biotechnology (biotech products), made on 13 and 14 May 2003, pursuant to Article 4 ofthe Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes (DSU), Article 11
of the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  (SPS Agreement),
Article 19 of the Agreement on Agriculture , Article 14 of the Agreement on Technical Barriers to
Trade  (TBT Agreement) and Article XXII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994
(GATT 1994), which were circulated to Members on 20 and 21 May 2003 (respectively,
WT/DS291/1, G/L/627, G/SPS/G EN/397, G/AG/GEN/60, G/TBT/D/ 28;  WT/DS292/1, G/L/628,
G/SPS/GEN/398, G/AG/GEN/61, G/TBT/D/29;  and WT/DS293/1, G/L/629, G/SPS/GEN/399,G/AG/GEN/62, G/ TBT/D/30).
Brazil has substantial trade interests in the matter, as one of the largest world exporters of
agricultural commodities and one of the countries of greatest biodiversity in the world, among other
reasons.  I therefore wish to convey the desire of the Government of Brazil, pursuant to Article 4.11 of
the DSU, to join in those consultations.
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