WT/DS367/AB/R
Page 163

World Trade
Organization
WT/DS367/AB/R
29 November 2010
(10-6392)
Original: English

Australia – Measures Affecting the Importation
of Apples from New Zealand

AB-2010-2

Report of the Appellate Body

WT/DS367/AB/R
Page 163

I. Introduction 1

II. Arguments of the Participants and the Third Participants 6

A. Claims of Error by Australia – Appellant 6

1. Annex A(1) to the SPS Agreement: "SPS Measure" 7

2. Articles 5.1, 5.2, and 2.2 of the SPS Agreement 9

(a) Measures regarding Fire Blight 12

(b) Measures regarding ALCM 15

3. Article 11 of the DSU 16

(a) Treatment of Expert Testimony 16

(b) The Panel's Alleged Misunderstanding of the IRA 18

4. Article 5.6 of the SPS Agreement 19

B. Arguments of New Zealand – Appellee 22

1. Annex A(1) to the SPS Agreement: "SPS Measure" 22

2. Articles 5.1, 5.2, and 2.2 of the SPS Agreement 23

(a) Measures regarding Fire Blight 26

(b) Measures regarding ALCM 28

3. Article 11 of the DSU 29

(a) Treatment of Expert Testimony 29

(b) The Panel's Alleged Misunderstanding of the IRA 31

4. Article 5.6 of the SPS Agreement 31

C. Claims of Error by New Zealand – Other Appellant 33

1. Annex C(1)(a) and Article 8 of the SPS Agreement 33

D. Arguments of Australia – Appellee 35

1. Annex C(1)(a) and Article 8 of the SPS Agreement 35

E. Arguments of the Third Participants 37

1. European Union 37

2. Japan 39

3. United States 41

III. Issues Raised in This Appeal 43

IV. The Measures at Issue and the Risk Assessment on which They were Based 44

A. The Measures at Issue 44

B. Background to the Adoption of the Measures at Issue 47

C. Relevant Aspects of the IRA and the Methodology Used 48

1. Pest Risk Assessment 48

(a) Pest Categorization and Pests at Issue 48

(b) Assessment of the Probability of Entry, Establishment and Spread 50

(i) Assessment for Pathogens (Including Fire Blight) 50

(ii) Assessment for Arthropods (Including ALCM) 53

(c) Assessment of Consequences 54

(d) Combining the Estimated Probability of Entry, Establishment and Spread with the Estimate of Consequences 54

2. Pest Risk Management 56

D. The IRA's Conclusions on Fire Blight 57

1. Pest Risk Assessment 57

(a) Assessment of Probability of Entry, Establishment and Spread 57

(b) Assessment of Consequences 58

(c) Combining the Estimated Probability of Entry, Establishment and Spread with the Estimate of Consequences 59

2. Pest Risk Management 59

E. The IRA's Conclusions on ALCM 60

1. Pest Risk Assessment 60

(a) Assessment of Probability of Entry, Establishment and Spread 60

(b) Assessment of Consequences 62

(c) Combining the Estimated Probability of Entry, Establishment and Spread with the Estimate of Consequences 62

2. Pest Risk Management 62

V. Annex A(1) to the SPS Agreement: "SPS Measure" 64

A. Interpretation of Annex A(1) to the SPS Agreement 65

B. Application of Annex A(1) to the Measures at Issue 68

C. Conclusion 71

VI. Articles 5.1, 5.2, and 2.2 of the SPS Agreement 71

A. IRA Structure and Panel Findings 71

B. Claims of Error and Arguments on Appeal 75

C. The Panel's Assessment of the IRA 77

1. Articles 5.1, 5.2, and 2.2 of the SPS Agreement 77

2. The Standard of Review Used by the Panel in Its Review of the IRA under Article 5.1 of the SPS Agreement 80

3. The Panel's Assessment of the Use of IRA Expert Judgement 84

4. The Materiality of the Faults the Panel Found with the Reasoning of the IRA 89

D. Conclusion 93

VII. Article 11 of the DSU 93

A. The Panel's Treatment of Testimony by Its Appointed Experts 94

B. The Panel's Characterization of the Methodology Employed in the IRA 107

C. Conclusion 111

VIII. Article 5.6 of the SPS Agreement 111

A. Article 5.6 and Footnote 3 114

B. Australia's Appeal 118

1. Whether the Panel's Finding under Article 5.6 was Consequential upon Its Findings under Articles 5.1, 5.2, and 2.2 of the SPS Agreement 118

2. The Alleged Errors in the Panel's Analysis of New Zealand's Article5.6 Claim 119

(a) The Panel's Analytical Approach to Article 5.6 of the SPSAgreement 119

(b) Completion of the Analysis 124

(i) Whether the Appellate Body can complete the analysis with respect to New Zealand's alternative measure for fire blight 126

(ii) Whether the Appellate Body can complete the analysis with respect to New Zealand's alternative measure for ALCM 134

3. Australia's Remaining Allegations of Error 140

C. Conclusion 142

IX. New Zealand's Other Appeal – Annex C(1)(a) and Article 8 of the SPS Agreement 142

A. Whether the Panel Erred in Finding that New Zealand's Claims under AnnexC(1)(a) and Article 8 of the SPS Agreement were Outside Its
Terms of Reference 143

B. Completion of the Legal Analysis 148

C. Conclusion 153

X. Findings and Conclusions 154

ANNEX I(a) and (b) Notification of an Appeal by Australia, WT/DS367/13 and Corr.1

ANNEX II Notification of an Other Appeal by New Zealand, WT/DS367/14

ANNEX III Procedural Ruling of 14 September 2010 allowing public observation
of the oral hearing


CASES CITED IN THIS REPORT

Short title / Full case title and citation /
Australia – Apples / Panel Report, Australia – Measures Affecting the Importation of Apples from New Zealand, WT/DS367/R, circulated to WTO Members 9 August 2010
Australia – Salmon / Appellate Body Report, Australia – Measures Affecting Importation of Salmon, WT/DS18/AB/R, adopted 6 November 1998, DSR 1998:VIII, 3327
Australia – Salmon / Panel Report, Australia – Measures Affecting Importation of Salmon, WT/DS18/R and Corr.1, adopted 6 November 1998, as modified by Appellate Body Report WT/DS18/AB/R, DSR 1998:VIII, 3407
Australia – Salmon
(Article 21.5 – Canada) / Panel Report, Australia – Measures Affecting Importation of Salmon – Recourse to Article 21.5 of the DSU by Canada, WT/DS18/RW, adopted
20 March 2000, DSR 2000:IV, 2031
Brazil – Retreaded Tyres / Appellate Body Report, Brazil – Measures Affecting Imports of Retreaded Tyres, WT/DS332/AB/R, adopted 17 December 2007, DSR 2007:IV, 1527
Canada – Autos / Appellate Body Report, Canada – Certain Measures Affecting the Automotive Industry, WT/DS139/AB/R, WT/DS142/AB/R, adopted 19 June 2000, DSR 2000:VI, 2985
Canada – Continued Suspension / Appellate Body Report, Canada – Continued Suspension of Obligations in the EC – Hormones Dispute, WT/DS321/AB/R, adopted 14 November 2008
EC – Approval and Marketing of Biotech Products / Panel Report, European Communities – Measures Affecting the Approval and Marketing of Biotech Products, WT/DS291/R, WT/DS292/R, WT/DS293/R, Add.1 to Add.9, and Corr.1, adopted 21 November 2006, DSR 2006:IIIVIII, 847
EC – Asbestos / Appellate Body Report, European Communities – Measures Affecting Asbestos and AsbestosContaining Products, WT/DS135/AB/R, adopted
5 April 2001, DSR 2001:VII, 3243
EC – Bananas III / Appellate Body Report, European Communities – Regime for the Importation, Sale and Distribution of Bananas, WT/DS27/AB/R, adopted 25 September 1997, DSR 1997:II, 591
EC – Bananas III
(Article 21.5 – Ecuador II) /
EC – Bananas III
(Article 21.5 – US) / Appellate Body Reports, European Communities – Regime for the Importation, Sale and Distribution of Bananas – Second Recourse to Article 21.5 of the DSU by Ecuador, WT/DS27/AB/RW2/ECU, adopted 11 December 2008, and Corr.1 / European Communities – Regime for the Importation, Sale and Distribution of Bananas – Recourse to Article 21.5 of the DSU by the United States, WT/DS27/AB/RW/USA and Corr.1, adopted 22 December 2008
EC – Hormones / Appellate Body Report, EC Measures Concerning Meat and Meat Products (Hormones), WT/DS26/AB/R, WT/DS48/AB/R, adopted 13 February 1998, DSR 1998:I, 135
EC – Sardines / Appellate Body Report, European Communities – Trade Description of Sardines, WT/DS231/AB/R, adopted 23 October 2002, DSR 2002:VIII, 3359
EC – Selected Customs Matters / Appellate Body Report, European Communities – Selected Customs Matters, WT/DS315/AB/R, adopted 11 December 2006, DSR 2006:IX, 3791
Guatemala – Cement I / Appellate Body Report, Guatemala – AntiDumping Investigation Regarding Portland Cement from Mexico, WT/DS60/AB/R, adopted 25 November 1998, DSR 1998:IX, 3767
Japan – Agricultural
Products II / Appellate Body Report, Japan – Measures Affecting Agricultural Products, WT/DS76/AB/R, adopted 19 March 1999, DSR 1999:I, 277
Japan – Alcoholic
Beverages II / Appellate Body Report, Japan – Taxes on Alcoholic Beverages, WT/DS8/AB/R, WT/DS10/AB/R, WT/DS11/AB/R, adopted 1 November 1996, DSR 1996:I, 97
Japan – Apples / Appellate Body Report, Japan – Measures Affecting the Importation of Apples, WT/DS245/AB/R, adopted 10 December 2003, DSR 2003:IX, 4391
Japan – Apples / Panel Report, Japan – Measures Affecting the Importation of Apples, WT/DS245/R, adopted 10 December 2003, as upheld by Appellate Body Report WT/DS245/AB/R, DSR 2003:IX, 4481
Korea – Dairy / Appellate Body Report, Korea – Definitive Safeguard Measure on Imports of Certain Dairy Products, WT/DS98/AB/R, adopted 12 January 2000, DSR 2000:I, 3
Korea – Various Measures on Beef / Appellate Body Report, Korea – Measures Affecting Imports of Fresh, Chilled and Frozen Beef, WT/DS161/AB/R, WT/DS169/AB/R, adopted 10 January 2001, DSR 2001:I, 5
US – Carbon Steel / Appellate Body Report, United States – Countervailing Duties on Certain CorrosionResistant Carbon Steel Flat Products from Germany, WT/DS213/AB/R and Corr.1, adopted 19 December 2002, DSR 2002:IX, 3779
US – Continued Suspension / Appellate Body Report, United States – Continued Suspension of Obligations in the EC – Hormones Dispute, WT/DS320/AB/R, adopted 14 November 2008, DSR 2008:X, 3507
US – Continued Zeroing / Appellate Body Report, United States – Continued Existence and Application of Zeroing Methodology, WT/DS350/AB/R, adopted 19 February 2009
US – CorrosionResistant Steel Sunset Review / Appellate Body Report, United States – Sunset Review of AntiDumping Duties on CorrosionResistant Carbon Steel Flat Products from Japan, WT/DS244/AB/R, adopted 9 January 2004, DSR 2004:I, 3
US – Poultry (China) / Panel Report, United States – Certain Measures Affecting Imports of Poultry from China, WT/DS392/R, adopted 25 October 2010
US – Steel Safeguards / Appellate Body Report, United States – Definitive Safeguard Measures on Imports of Certain Steel Products, WT/DS248/AB/R, WT/DS249/AB/R, WT/DS251/AB/R, WT/DS252/AB/R, WT/DS253/AB/R, WT/DS254/AB/R, WT/DS258/AB/R, WT/DS259/AB/R, adopted 10 December 2003, DSR 2003:VII, 3117
US – Upland Cotton / Appellate Body Report, United States – Subsidies on Upland Cotton, WT/DS267/AB/R, adopted 21 March 2005, DSR 2005:I, 3
US – Upland Cotton
(Article 21.5 – Brazil) / Appellate Body Report, United States – Subsidies on Upland Cotton – Recourse to Article 21.5 of the DSU by Brazil, WT/DS267/AB/RW, adopted 20 June 2008, DSR 2008:III, 809
US – Wheat Gluten / Appellate Body Report, United States – Definitive Safeguard Measures on Imports of Wheat Gluten from the European Communities, WT/DS166/AB/R, adopted 19 January 2001, DSR 2001:II, 717
US – Wool Shirts and Blouses / Appellate Body Report, United States – Measure Affecting Imports of Woven Wool Shirts and Blouses from India, WT/DS33/AB/R, adopted 23 May 1997, and Corr.1, DSR 1997:I, 323
US – Zeroing (EC)
(Article 21.5 – EC) / Appellate Body Report, United States – Laws, Regulations and Methodology for Calculating Dumping Margins ("Zeroing") – Recourse to Article 21.5 of the DSU by the European Communities, WT/DS294/AB/RW and Corr.1, adopted 11 June 2009
US – Zeroing (Japan)
(Article 21.5 – Japan) / Appellate Body Report, United States – Measures Relating to Zeroing and Sunset Reviews – Recourse to Article 21.5 of the DSU by Japan, WT/DS322/AB/RW, adopted 31 August 2009


ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THIS REPORT

Abbreviation / Description /
ALCM / Apple leafcurling midge
ALOP / Appropriate level of protection
AQIS / Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service
DSB / Dispute Settlement Body
DSU / Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes
FAO / Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
GATT 1994 / General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994
Imp / Importation step
IPPC / International Plant Protection Convention
IRA / Biosecurity Australia, Final Import Risk Analysis Report for Apples from NewZealand (Canberra, November 2006), Parts A, B, and C (Panel Exhibits AUS-1, AUS2, and AUS-3, respectively)
ISPM / IPPC's International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures
Panel Report / Panel Report, Australia – Measures Affecting the Importation of Apples from New Zealand, WT/DS367/R
SPS / Sanitary and phytosanitary
SPS Agreement / Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures
Working Procedures / Working Procedures for Appellate Review, WT/AB/WP/5, 4January2005. (Note: Although this version of the Working Procedures for Appellate Review applied to this appeal, it has been replaced by a subsequent version, WT/AB/WP/6, 16 August 2010)
WTO / World Trade Organization

WT/DS367/AB/R
Page 163

World Trade Organization

Appellate Body

Australia – Measures Affecting the Importation of Apples from New Zealand
Australia, Appellant/Appellee
New Zealand, Other Appellant/Appellee
Chile, Third Participant
European Union[1], Third Participant
Japan, Third Participant
Pakistan, Third Participant
Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu, Third Participant
United States, Third Participant / AB-2010-2
Present:
Zhang, Presiding Member
Hillman, Member
Oshima, Member

I.  Introduction

1.  Australia and New Zealand each appeals certain issues of law and legal interpretations developed in the Panel Report, Australia – Measures Affecting the Importation of Apples from NewZealand (the "Panel Report").[2] The Panel was established on 21 January 2008 to consider a complaint by New Zealand concerning several Australian measures on the importation of apples from NewZealand.[3]

2.  Following a request for access to the Australian market filed by New Zealand in January1999, the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service ("AQIS") initiated an import risk analysis[4] to assess the risks associated with the importation of apples from New Zealand, including, notably, the risks associated with the following three quarantine pests: fire blight, European canker, and apple leafcurling midge ("ALCM").[5] In November 2006, Biosecurity Australia issued its FinalImport Risk Analysis Report for Apples from New Zealand (the "IRA").[6] This risk assessment was "semi-quantitative" in that, for each pest, it combined a quantitative assessment of the likelihood of entry, establishment and spread with a qualitative assessment of the likely associated potential biological and economic consequences.[7] The combination of these probability assessments then yielded an overall determination of "unrestricted risk", that is, the risk associated with the importation of apples from New Zealand in the absence of any risk management measures.[8] When the "unrestricted risk" associated with a specific pest was determined to exceed Australia's appropriate level of protection ("ALOP")[9], then possible risk management measures that could be adopted to mitigate the risk were evaluated, and recommendations made accordingly.[10] Thus, the IRA recommended a number of risk management measures to the Director of Animal and Plant Quarantine.[11] The Director subsequently determined that the importation of apples from NewZealand can be permitted subject to, inter alia, the application of the phytosanitary measures specified in the IRA.[12]