WORLD TRADE WT/DS18/4
25November 1997
ORGANIZATION(97-5182)
Original: English
AUSTRALIA -MEASURES AFFECTING IMPORTATION OFSALMON
Communication from theChairman ofthePanel
Thefollowing communication, dated 24November 1997, addressed totheDispute Settlement
Body (DSB), 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 hasbeenagreed
uponuntilthedatethefinalreport isissued totheparties shall, asageneral rule,notexceed sixmonths.
Pursuant toArticle 12.9oftheDSU, when apanel considers thatitcannot issue itsreport within six
months, itshallinform theDSBinwriting ofthereasons forthedelay together withanestimate of
theperiod within which itwillissue itsreport.
ThePanel on"Australia -Measures Affecting Importation ofSalmon" wasestablished bythe
DSBon10April 1997, andparties agreed onitscomposition andterms ofreference on28May1997
(WT/DS18/3/Rev.1). Iwishtoinform youthatthePanel willnotbeabletocomplete itswork within
thesixmonths provided forintheDSU. Thecomplexity ofthematter andthePanel'sdecision to
seektechnical andscientific expertise pursuant toArticle 11oftheAgreement onSanitary and
Phytosanitary Measures andArticle 13oftheDSU areresponsible forthisdelay.
ThePanel intends tofinalize itswork bytheendofApril 1998.