WORLD TRADE WT/DS48/8
24November 1997
ORGANIZATION(97-5215)
ECMEASURES CONCERNING MEAT AND MEAT PRODUCTS (HORMONES)
COMPLAINT BYCANADA
Communication from theAppellate Body
Thefollowing communication, dated 21November 1997, fromtheChairman oftheAppellate
Body addressed totheChairman oftheDispute Settlement Body, iscirculated inaccordance with
Article 17.5oftheUnderstanding onRules andProcedures Governing theSettlement ofDisputes.
_________________
Iamwriting toyoupursuant toArticle 17.5oftheUnderstanding onRules andProcedures
Governing theSettlement ofDisputes ,which stipulates that,asageneral rule,theAppellate Body will
circulate itsreport nolaterthan60daysaftertheappellant hasformally notified itsdecision toappeal.
Article 17.5states, furthermore, thatwhen theAppellate Body considers thatitcannot provide itsreport
within 60days, itshallinform theDSBinwriting ofthereasons forthedelay together withanestimate
oftheperiod within which itwillsubmit itsreport.
TheEuropeanCommunitiesnotifiedtheDisputeSettlementBodyofitsdecisiontoappealcertain
issues oflawcovered inthePanel Report andlegal interpretations developed bythePanel on
24September 1997, withtheresult thatthe60-day period willexpire onMonday, 24November 1997.
Inlightofthecomplexity ofthiscase, theAppellate Body willnotbeabletocirculate itsreport by
24November 1997. Weestimate thattheAppellate Body Report inthisappeal willbecirculated to
WTO Members byTuesday, 23December 1997.