. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SG/N/6/SVN/1
26 November 1998
(98-4743)
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
SLOVENIA
The following communication, dated 24 November 1998, has been received from the
Permanent Mission of Slovenia.
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Pursuant to Article 12.1(a) of the WTO Agreement on Safeguards and using the format
adopted by the Committee on Safeguards (document G/SG/N/6), the Republic of Slovenia hereby
gives notification of the initiation of a safeguards investigatory process.
1. Date of initiation of the investigation
On 15 October 1998, the Ministry of Agriculture decided to initiate an investigation process
relating to threat of serious injury to the Slovenian swine meat market.
2. Products subject to investigation
The investigation involves products contained in tariff heading 0203 - Meat of swine, fresh,
chilled or frozen.
3. Reasons for initiating the investigation
From August to September 1998, the import of swine meat increased by 49 per cent and
continued to increase by an additional 17 per cent in October.
Month/year 1997 (tonnes) 1998 (tonnes)
August 1,856 1,978
September 2,493 2,950
October 2,761 3,443
The trend of import increase can also be observed in November 1998.  Increased imports of
swine meat have already caused serious injury to domestic breeders due to a heavy decrease in
domestic swine purchase and thus putting pressure on domestic purchase prices.  Domestic producers
are suffering damage because of revenue loss.  Continuation of this import trend would cause even
greater damage for swine breeders.G/SG/N/6/SVN/1
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On the basis of these statistical import data, the Republic of Slovenia has determined that
there is clear evidence that increased imports are threatening to cause serious damage, so it was
decided to introduce a provisional safeguard measure, which was notified under Article 12.4 of the
Agreement on Safeguards to the WTO on 21 November 1998.
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