A decision by the St. Lucia government to implement more measures governing the importation of chickens from the United States could propel the sector into crisis, farming interests say.

"If a solution is not found, the whole broiler industry in St. Lucia is going to be in trouble," said Phillip J. Pierre, a former Commerce Minister.

"It's always difficult when you are dealing with international standards. St. Lucia is a small country but we have to maintain international standards because the whole export industry depends on that."

At the centre of the dispute is an apparent requirement by the Ministry of Agriculture preventing the importation of hatching chickens from the United States without laboratory testing.

Officials say the measure is intended to protect local consumers. But breeders in the United States say that in order to do some of the testing parents of breeder hens must be killed and this would be an expensive exercise.

As a result, there has been a temporary ban on the importation of those chickens into the island.

Poultry farmer, Darius Dujon said a meeting with local authorities failed to reach a solution.

Given assurance

"After meeting with the chief veterinary officer we have been given the assurance by Govern-ment that efforts to rectify the problem are in the advanced stages, and they expect that in the daysahead the problem with the U.S. authorities could be sorted out," he said.

But Pierre said the problem is unlikely to be settled soon since there are sensitive issues involved.

"There has to be a balance between the safety of the product coming into St. Lucia and protecting the interest of the local poultry industry.

"The truth is this is a very difficult issue and I am sure the authorities here have not taken the decision in a vacuum.

It has to do with standards and requirements for products coming into the country and I hope that some solution is found," Pierre said.

CMC