A World Trade Organization dispute panel ruling on the EU`s market authorizations for genetically modified products, which was due October 10th, is being put off until the first week of January 2006. Although the panel did not explicitly link the delay with the WTO`s Hong Kong ministerial conference in December, it has been noted that the postponement will allow the WTO to avoid having the dispute become an issue at the ministerial conference, which is expected to be targeted by thousands of anti-globalization protestors. The panel, established in August 2003, has been asked to rule on what the US, Canada and Argentina claim is the EU`s illegal de-facto moratorium on the approval of products containing GMOs. The three also accused Austria, France, Greece, and Italy of prohibiting the marketing of GMO products, which have already been approved for sale within the EU.