./.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SG/N/6/SVK/1
19 May 1999
(99-2023)
Committee on Safeguards Original:  English
NOTIFICATION UNDER ARTICLE 12.1(A) OF THE AGREEMENT
ON SAFEGUARDS ON INITIATION OF AN INVESTIGATION
AND THE REASONS FOR IT
SLOVAK REPUBLIC
The following communication, dated 10 May 1999, has been received from the Permanent
Mission of the Slovak Republic.
_______________
Pursuant to Article 12.1(a) of the Agreement on Safeguards and using the format adopted by
the Committee on Safeguards (G/SG/N/6), the Slovak Republic hereby gives notification of the
initiation of a safeguard investigatory process, as follows:
1. Date investigation was initiated:
On 5 May 1999, the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic decided to proceed to
initiate an investigation process relating to the importation of swine meat.
2. Products subject to investigation:
Meat of swine, fresh, chilled or frozen – tariff heading 0203.
3. Reasons for initiation of the investigation:
The investigation was initiated by the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic on the
basis of a complaint by the Association of Swine Br eeders of the Slovak Republic, on behalf of swine
breeders representing the majority of the Slovak producers of the product concerned.
The Ministry of Economy has evidence of substantial increases in imports of meat of swine
which have caused and threaten to cause injury to the domestic industry.
Import of swine meat in 1996 was in the volume  of 20 tons from all countries, except the
Czech Republic, in 1997 in the volume of 70 tons and in 1998 reached the volume of 5,789 tons.  The
indices of import increases are:  1997/199 6 – 350 per cent, 1998/1997 – 8,270 per cent.
The Ministry of Economy has available data proving that this rapid increase in import
volumes was also observed in the first quarter of the year 1999.  Until 5 April 1999, import of theproduct concerned from the third countries was in the volume of 4,734 tons.
According to the data submitted by the domestic industry, the Ministry of Economy has found
that due to increased imports of swine meat, the losses of the domestic industry were Sk 297 million,G/SG/N/6/SVK/1
Page 2
the number of employees in relevant industry has decreased by 6,466 employees, the decrease of
production capacities in 1998 was 16 per cent in comparison to the year 1996 and the production of
live swine decreased by 18,400 tons.  The loss of the domestic industry in 1999 under unchanged
circumstances is estimated at Sk 232 million.
After further  examination of the complaint, the Ministry of Economy has decided to initiate a
safeguard investigation.  This decision was published in the Commercial Bulletin of the Slovak
Republic on 5 May 1999.
__________