WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/DS18/17
13 December 1999
(99-5415)
Original:  English
AUSTRALIA - MEASURES AFFECTING IMPORTATION OF SALMON
Recourse to Article 21.5 of the DSU by Canada
Communication from the Chairman of the Panel
The following communication, dated 8 December 1999, addressed to the Chairman of the
Dispute Settlement Body (DSB), is circulat ed in accordance with Article 21.5 of the DSU.
_______________
Article 21.5 of the DSU stipulates that a panel examining the existence or consistency with a
covered agreement of measures taken to comply with the recommendations and rulings by the DisputeSettlement Body (DSB) shall circulate its report within 90 days after referral of the matter to it.  Article
21.5 further provides that when a panel considers that  it cannot issue its report within 90 days, it shall
inform the DSB in writing of the reasons for the dela y together with an estimate of the period within
which it will issue its report.
At its meeting of 28 July 1999, the DSB decided, in accordance with Article 21.5, to refer to the
original panel the matter raised by Canada in WT/DS 18/14.  I wish to inform you that the Panel will not
be able to complete its work within the 90 days provided for in the DSU.  Requests from both parties
that the time-period be extended, along with the co mplexity of the matter and the Panel's decision to
seek technical and scientific expertise pursuant to Article 11 of the Agreement on Sanitary and
Phytosanitary Measures and Article 13 of the DSU, are responsible for this delay.
The Panel intends to finalize its work by early February 2000.
__________