WORLD TRADE WT/DS22/7
19September 1996
ORGANIZATION(96-3688)
BRAZIL -MEASURES AFFECTING DESICCATED COCONUT
Communication from theChairman ofthePanel
Thefollowingcommunication,dated18September1996andaddressedtotheDisputeSettlement
Body, iscirculated inaccordance withArticle 12.9oftheDSU.
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Article 12.8 oftheDSU stipulates thattheperiod inwhich thepanel shall conduct its
examination, fromthedatethatthecomposition andterms ofreference ofthepanel havebeenagreed
uponuntilthedatethefinalreport isissued totheparties, shall, asageneral rule,notexceed sixmonths.
Article 12.9oftheDSUstates thatwhen thepanel considers thatitcannot issueitsreport within
sixmonths, itshallinform theDispute Settlement Body (DSB) inwriting ofthereasons forthedelay
together withanestimate oftheperiod within which itwillissue itsreport.
ThePanel on"Brazil -Measures affecting Desiccated Coconut" wasestablished bytheDSB
on5March 1996, andtheParties agreed onitscomposition on16April 1996. Inresponse toarequest
from thePhilippines, thePanel hasdecided toallow additional timefortheparties tosubmit written
requests forInterim Review, andhasextended theperiod forinterim review. Asaconsequence, the
Panel willnotbeabletoissue itsreport within thesixmonth period.
ThePanel, inagreement withtheParties, expects tocomplete itsworkbymid-November 1996.