EC REG 1774/2002: CANADA SEEKS DELAY IN

UNCLAS OTTAWA 000717 SIPDIS USDA FOR FAS/EAMED DEPT PASS USTR FOR BERNSTEIN, SILLS AND PORTER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD USTR SUBJECT: EC REG 1774/2002: CANADA SEEKS DELAY IN IMPLEMENTATION REF: STATE 57391 ¶1. Canada is concerned about the difficulty of implementing EC Regulation 1774/2002 on May 1 and, following receipt of Reftel demarche, sent a letter to the EC requesting a delay in implementation of the regulation concerning animal by-products. According to the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) Trade Policy Officer Sudha Kshatriya, Canada's Deputy Head of Mission in Brussels Laurette Glasgow sent the letter to the EC's Director General for Trade Peter Carl on Thursday, March 13. Kshatriya said that she has been in direct contact with USTR's Jason Bernstein and has provided him with a copy of the letter. ¶2. In Fall 2002 Canada raised their concerns about the Regulation bilaterally with the European Commission, during the November SPS committee meeting, and in a letter from Canadian Agriculture Minister Lyle Vanclief to EC Consumer Health and Safety Commissioner Byrne. Kshatriya stated that the GOC has come to realize that the representations were not successful and that implementation of 1774/2002 was "a done deal." Canada is now focusing on developing an industry implementation plan and has been in contact with the EC to seek clarification on the complex regulations. Kshatriya noted that the GOC has been working with the US Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service on technical issues related to the implementation of the regulations. Canada has not received any derogations from the EC. ¶3. DFAIT is coordinating an interagency response to Reftel demarche, which we will pass along. Reftel talking points were also delivered to Richard Fadden and Paul Haddow from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. CELLUCCI