ban on offals in march 2011 the united states expressed concerns about viet nams implementation of a temporary ban on the importation of offal products as of 7 july 2010. while viet nam had cited food safety concerns for the implementation of the ban in spite of repeated requests from several trading partners viet nam had neither notified the wto of this measure nor had it provided any scientific justification for the ban. the united states had raised this issue bilaterally in the margins of previous committee meetings and at transpacific partnershi meetings but was yet to see any change in the ban. canada supported the concerns of the united states. canada was informed of the ban only after it had been imposed and was not provided any scientific explanation for the action. this action had resulted in the immediate ban of trade valued at 4.2 million canadian dollars in 2009. canada had made numerous requests for viet nam to remove the ban and the canadian embassy in viet nam had been informed that viet nam intended to partially lift the ban. however viet nam had subsequently introduced additional sps requirements on offal imports which canada hoped were science-based. the european union new zealand and australia supported the concerns expressed by the united states and canada. viet nam responded that the emergency measures taken to temporarily suspend the importation of offals were in response to grave public health concerns. according to a 2009 who report eight million vietnamese people had health problems related to food. viet nam was aware of the concerns raised by its trading partners and was looking for solutions. however as a developing country with limited resources it would take some time to strengthen the inspection procedures and provide uniform guidelines. viet nam had already lifted its temporary ban on offals from poultry and pork and was currently in discussion with the united states and other trading partners to find adequate solutions for both viet nams human health situation and trade. in june 2011 the united states expressed concerns that viet nam continued to restrict trade in offal as of july 2010 without providing any scientific justification or notification. viet nam had since lifted its ban on hearts livers and kidneys derived from cattle swine and poultry but the ban on all other offal products continued. to date no scientific justification had been provided for the ban despite many requests for such information and the united states urged viet nam to lift its unjustified ban immediately. the european union expressed similar concerns and indicated that the ban seriously affected eu exports of offal. the ban was not consistent with viet nams obligations under the sps agreement as the measure had not been notified no scientific justification had been provided despite requests from trading partners and there were no similar measures on domestic offal thereby discriminating against foreign imports. the recent revision of the ban which would allow resumption of imports of some red offal was a positive step but the ban on other types of offal remained in place. viet nam was urged to immediately lift its ban on all offal or alternatively to provide a risk assessment and scientific justification. viet nam should refrain from implementing such measures in the future and comply with the transparency requirements and other obligations under the sps agreement. new zealand supported the systemic concerns expressed by the united states and the european union specifically with regard to the lack of notification and scientific justification and requested viet nam to lift the ban as soon as possible. viet nam responded that there was no formal regulation banning imports of offal. during 2009 and early 2010 imported frozen animal and animal products were found to violate the food safety requirements of viet nam within that time period viet nam detected and disposed of 94 tons of meat 42 57 ton