EU appeals against WTO hormone-beef ban

23 September 1997

EU appeals against WTO hormone-beef ban

THE European Union (EU) is due to launch an appeal on Thursday against the World Trade Organisation ruling that the European Unions ban on beef imports containing hormones breaches world trade rules.

It is widely expected to lose the appeal, although the European Commission says it has strong legal and scientific arguments.

Brussels argues there is evidence hormones used in the US and other countries to promote cattle growth can cause cancer, but the WTO says they are safe.

The same meeting is expected to reject an EU appeal against a WTO ruling banning elements of Europes banana import regime.

• Financial Times 23/09/97 page 7