Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman today announced that the United States has signed a new agreement with the European Union, paving the way for mutual recognition of animal health systems and easier resolution of related future disputes.

“This important agreement lays the foundation for increased trade opportunities between the U.S. and the European Union,” said Glickman. “It is heartening that, despite the current difficulties in our trade relationship, the U.S. and the EU have worked together to reach agreement on these complex agricultural trade issues.”

The agreement identifies specific areas where the two trading partners recognize that varied requirements of different nations can achieve an equivalent level of protection for public and animal health. In practical terms, this means that producers in one country wishing to export to another can meet the standards of the importing country in alternative ways, in addition to meeting their own domestic requirements. Thus, the agreement will help reduce compliance costs for producers, easing one of the factors that may unnecessarily depress exports.

The equivalency agreement allows veterinary inspection requirements to differ from country to country, and it ensures the United States the right to establish its own level of public health protection for imported and domestic products