VZCZCXRO8225
RR RUEHBI
DE RUEHLM #1009/01 3080201
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 040201Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0720
INFO RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 2008
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 9044
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 7282
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 3437
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 2558
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 9607
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 6901

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 001009 
 
SIPDIS 
 
USTR FOR GBLUE and VICTORIA KADER; DEPARTMENT FOR EB/TPP/BTA and 
SCA/INSB 
 
E.O 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON ETRD EFIN CE
 
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: 2010 NTE: REPORT ON SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY 
(SPS) AND STANDARDS-RELATED FOREIGN TRADE BARRIERS 
 
REF: SECSTATE 105978 
 
COLOMBO 00001009  001.10 OF 002 
 
 
ZFR ZFR ZFR ZFR - COLOMBO 1009 WILL BE RESENT UNDER A NEW MRN - ZFR ZFR 
 
 
 
COLOMBO 00001009  002.3 OF 002 
 
 
 
SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY (SPS) MEASURES 
 
¶7. (U) POULTRY:  Sri Lanka has banned the importation of U.S. 
chicken meat that is not mechanically deboned.  During the October 
2009 United States-Sri Lanka TIFA meeting, Sri Lanka openly admitted 
that this measure was in place to protect its domestic industry and 
contended that this was permitted under the use of a WTO safeguard 
mechanism.  The U.S. government responded that if this were the 
case, that safeguard should be formally raised within the WTO. 
Additionally, Sri Lanka had imposed avian influenza bans on all 
poultry and poultry products imported from several U.S. states.  As 
of October 2009, these bans were all removed.  Sri Lanka imposed 
these bans due to the detection of low pathogenicity notifiable 
avian influenza, an action which is not supported by the World 
Organization for Animal Health (OIE).  Sri Lanka was reluctant to 
remove the bans and continues to believe that their actions were 
justified - raising concerns that such action may reoccur. 
 
¶8. (U) BEEF:  A ban on U.S. beef imports remains in effect due to 
the detection of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in the 
United States in 2003.  This ban is also not supported by the OIE, 
and Sri Lanka is one of five countries in the world to have taken 
absolutely no action to lift any part of their BSE-related U.S. beef 
ban.  This issue was raised during the October 2009 TIFA.  Sri Lanka 
defended their position by incorrectly citing the guidelines and 
recommendations of the OIE's guidelines for meat and poultry. 
 
¶9. (U) MICROBIOLOGICAL TESTING OF MEAT IMPORTS:  In September 2009, 
Sri Lanka started 100% testing of all imported meat products for 
various pathogens.  This policy change was not notified to the WTO. 
Importers have complained that the additional demurrage costs 
associated with the testing are unnecessary, and that government 
testing methods are not sound.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture 
additionally argues that the USDA Food Safety Inspection Service 
attestation which mandatorily accompanies all meat exports is a 
sufficient assurance of wholesomeness.  During the October 2009 
TIFA, Sri Lanka was asked to provide its regulation on 
microbiological testing, especially as it relates to their testing 
protocol, targeted pathogens, and acceptable pathogen levels.  The 
U.S. government also emphasized the importance of notifying the WTO 
SPS committee of this regulation. 
 
¶10. (U) SEED POTATOES:  Sri Lanka lifted a ban on imports of seed 
potato from the United States in March 2007.  The ban was initially 
put in place due to fears that the Colorado Potato Beetle (CPB) 
could be introduced into Sri Lanka via seed potato imports. 
However, Sri Lanka now requires a certificate from a plant 
entomologist stating that the CPB does not exist in the potato tuber 
to accompany the seed potato imports.  The United States has pressed 
for the removal of this certificate requirement on the grounds that 
it is not scientifically justified. 
 
¶11. (U) Additionally, Sri Lanka requires unreasonable virus 
tolerance levels for seed potatoes and overly restrictive 
requirements on generation that USDA is unable to meet.  In July 
2009, a Sri Lankan team including an official from the Department of 
Agriculture (DOA) visited the U.S. on an industry/inspection visit 
to review the issue.  Although Sri Lanka requires zero tolerance for 
viruses, post-shipment tests of seed potatoes from other countries 
presently supplying Sri Lanka have detected viruses, despite the 
virus-free certification provided by these countries to the Sri 
Lankan DOA.  The APHIS/USDA area representative met with DOA 
officials in September 2009 and discussed the matter.  The APHIS 
representative provided a list of viruses present in Sri Lanka and 
presented a draft protocol for seed potato importation.  Although 
the DOA subsequently recommended a Pest Risk Assessment (PRA), APHIS 
has questioned the need for a PRA since extensive discussions, 
industry visits and exchange of letters have taken place on this 
issue.  The DOA will respond to APHIS in this regard after 
consultations among its officials.  Virus tolerances and restrictive 
generation requirements need to be resolved before the Sri Lankan 
market can grow into a strong commercial export market for U.S. seed 
potatoes. 
 
¶12. (U) Information contained in this cable will also be provided to 
requesting offices as a Word document via email.  Questions should 
be directed to EconOff Ken Kero-Mentz at keroka@state.gov. 
 
 
BUTENIS