Madagascar Launches Safeguard Investigation on Concentrated Milk

On 14 February 2023, Madagascar notified the WTO’s Committee on Safeguards that it initiated on 11 February 2023 a safeguard investigation on concentrated milk and that it imposed a provisional measure.

In the notification Madagascar indicated, among other things, as follows (provisional English translation):

"Interested parties should make themselves known to the ANMCC, the authority in charge of the investigation, within 30 days from the date of the initiation of the investigation.

Any information or comments that interested parties would like to communicate as well as the request for a questionnaire must be sent to the ANMCC within 30 days from the date of the initiation of the investigation.

Public hearings may be organized by the ANMCC, either at the request of interested parties, or ex officio, to allow interested parties to present evidence and, in particular, to have the opportunity to respond to the presentations of other parties and to make their views known and to defend their interests.

The answers to the questionnaire as well as other relevant information that the parties wish to communicate must be sent to the ANMCC within 30 working days of the initiation of the investigation."

"6. Offer of consultations under Article 12.4
In accordance with Article 12.4 of the Agreement on Safeguards, Madagascar is ready to consult on the provisional safeguard measure with Members having a substantial interest as exporters of the products concerned.

7. Additional information
All inquiries and correspondence regarding this investigation should be addressed to:

Monsieur Le Directeur Général de l’ANMCC
Enceinte Ex-Conquête Antanimena, Antananarivo 101 - Madagascar
e-mail: dg@anmcc.mg / dg.anmcc@gmail.com
site web: www.anmcc.mg "

Further information is available in G/SG/N/6/MDG/9.

What is a safeguard investigation?

A safeguard investigation seeks to determine whether increased imports of a product are causing, or is threatening to cause, serious injury to a domestic industry.

During a safeguard investigation, importers, exporters and other interested parties may present evidence and views and respond to the presentations of other parties.

A WTO member may take a safeguard action (i.e. restrict imports of a product temporarily) only if the increased imports of the product are found to be causing, or threatening to cause, serious injury.