restriction on pigmeat in november 2002 the european communities noted that australia banned imports of pigmeat from the european communities except danish pigmeat subject to a specific heat treatment. australia had began a risk assessment for pigmeat imports in may 1998 and although the results had been scheduled for february 2000 they had not been presented and no alternative date had been set. four and a half years was too long a delay to wait for a risk assessment to be undertaken. the european communities had formally proposed equivalent measures but australia had not accepted these. the european communities requested australia to take a decision as quickly as possible. australia indicated that a generic import risk analysis ira of the quarantine risks and risk management options associated with disease agents that may be introduced into australia with pigmeat imported from a number of countries including ec member states was being conducted. a technical issues paper issued early in 2001 identified a range of quarantine risks including foot-and-mouth disease african swine fever classical swine fever as well as various other pig diseases. the pigmeat ira was necessarily comprehensive and complex australias pig industry had a very favourable health status. in the case of ec exports the risk analysis had to deal with three oie list a diseases as well as a number of other serious diseases present in ec member states but absent in australia. for some serious diseases little scientific information was available and australia had to commission significant research to provide independent scientific information on a range of issues including the transmissibility of porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome prrs . the results of some mayor research was expected to be available at the end of the year. technical input from the european communities on prrs and other diseases being considered in the import risk analysis would be welcomed. in april 2003 the european communities noted that it had taken 17 years to obtain some access for processed meat from denmark into australia. furthermore there was still no date given for the publication of the general risk assessment undertaken by australia in 1998. the european communities questioned why there was still a debate on the methodology to be used for conducting the risk assessment four-and-a half years after the risk assessment had begun. the time necessary for completion of the ira was excessive and the requirements for danish imports were disproportionate to the risk. the european communities called on australia to publish the ira without further delay and to give positive consideration to equivalent measures. canada also expressed frustration with the delays in australias ira procedures. australia observed that aujetskys disease was eradicated in denmark only in 1992 and following that prrs emerged. this had to be considered in the import risk analysis commenced in 1994. the import of pigmeat from denmark subject to certain requirements was approved in 1997. a generic import risk analysis on pigmeat was assessing import requests from a wide range of countries. various updates had been provided - including a recent update to the european commission. comments on the methodology paper were welcomed and a draft of the risk assessment would be available as soon as possible. the process was transparent and science-based. independent research on prrs had demonstrated oral transmission of the virus via pigmeat. given the lack of scientific information on its transmission via meat australia was seeking the information needed for an informed quarantine policy decision. in june 2005 the european communities informed the committee that a joint expert working grou had been established to look at ways of restoring full trade while protecting australia from the introduction of post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome pmws . a recent court case in australia had