U.S. and European Union Veterinary Equivalency Talks      
                                                                 
 	                                             Release No. 0114.97
 
	        	                                                       
        	                           Jim Petterson (202) 720-4623
                                                                
Statement
                                        
				by
       Paul Drazek, Senior Trade Advisor to the Secretary
                 U.S. Department of Agriculture
    on U.S. and European Union Veterinary Equivalency Talks
                         April 15, 1997


     "As a result of discussions between U.S. and European Union
negotiators over the weekend, during which several new proposals
in the veterinary equivalency talks were discussed, it has been
decided that EU negotiators will return to Washington later this
week for further elaboration of those ideas.  

     "The U.S. Department of Agriculture has notified EU member
countries and the EU Commission that the date on which we intend
to implement our new policy regarding USDA Food Safety and
Inspection Service verification of EU compliance with strict
U.S. meat and poultry inspection standards will be April 30,
1997, rather than April 15."

                                
                                
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