WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/DS76/4
6 July 1998
(98-2659)
Original:  English
JAPAN – MEASURES AFFECTING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS
Communication from the Chairman of the Panel
The following communication, dated 3 July 1998, addressed to the Dispute Settlement Body,
is circulated in accordance with Article 12.9 of the DSU.
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Article 12.8 of the DSU stipulates that the period in which the panel shall conduct its
examination, from the date that the composition and terms of reference of the panel has been agreed
upon until the date the final report is issued to the part ies shall, as a general rule, not exceed six months.
Pursuant to Article 12.9 of the DSU, when a panel c onsiders that it cannot issue its report within six
months, it shall inform the DSB in writing of the reas ons for the delay together with an estimate of the
period within which it will issue its report.
The Panel on "Japan – Measures Affecting Agri cultural Products" was established by the DSB
on 18 November 1997, and parties agreed on its composition and terms of reference on 18 December
1998 (WT/DS76/3).  I wish to inform you that the Pane l has not been able to complete its work within
the six months provided for in the DSU.  The comp lexity of the matter and the Panel's decision to seek
technical and scientific expertise pursuant to Artic le 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 the end of October 1998.
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