Article 12.8 of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes (DSU) provides that the period in which a panel shall conduct its examination, from the date that the composition and terms of reference of the panel have been agreed upon until the date the final report is issued to the parties to the dispute, shall, as a general rule, not exceed six months.

            Article 12.9 of the DSU provides that, when a panel considers that it cannot issue its report within six months, it shall inform the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) in writing of the reasons for the delay, together with an estimate of the period within which it will issue its report.

            The Panel on Japan – Import Quotas on Dried Laver and Seasoned Laver (WT/DS323) was established by the DSB on 21 March 2005, and composed on 30 May 2005.

            The Panel expects to complete its work by March 2006.  This extension has been caused by scheduling difficulties and by the need to allow the parties sufficient time to submit evidence and to comment on evidence submitted by each other.  The extension has been reflected in the timetable adopted by the Panel after consultations with the Parties.