notifications regarding import requirements on meat and eggs in september 1998 the united states expressed concern that swiss regulations on meat from animals treated with hormones antibiotics and similar products imported under the swiss tariff rate quota trq were not based on science or risk assessment. the fact that different requirements were applied to meat imported outside the tariff rate quota called into question the validity of the alleged public health objective behind the regulation. the united states indicated it was preparing formal comments and encouraged other members to carefully consider the implications of the notified measure. canada noted that the purpose of the measure was consumer information yet the measure did not make it clear if labelling was carried through to the retail level. switzerland noted that thirty days were left of the comment period and that all comments made would be taken into account when drafting the final proposal. in november 1998 the united states reiterated its concerns regarding restrictions on meat imports under the swiss trq and added that the measure notified as g sps n che 15 would prohibit imports of eggs and egg products from birds raised in battery cages under the trq. such imports would be permitted outside the trq subject to prohibitively high duties strict labelling and additional certification requirements. the proposed regulations did not indicate what public health objective was involved. the united states was concerned that the measures did not appear to be based on a risk assessment. discrimination between products imported under the trq and outside the trq was unjustified. switzerland explained that the measures related to the implementation of the new swiss federal law on agriculture of 29 april 1998. swiss authorities were still discussing the implementation of the law and questions and comments would be taken into account. in july 2001 the united states indicated that it considered the issue unresolved g sps gen 265 . switzerland had notified amended measures under the tbt agreement on which the united states had formally commented. in october 2004 switzerland reported that this issue had been resolved. substantial changes had been made to the regulation to take into account comments received during the public consultation process. these changes were notified to the tbt committee in 1999 and were no longer considered sps issues. the united states concurred that the issue was resolved.