EU to maintain hormone beef ban

05 May 1999

EU to maintain hormone beef ban

THE European Union (EU) looks set for another bitter trade battle with the USA after it ruled out lifting its 11-year ban on hormone-treated meat.

The decision came following a scientific study which identified health risks from hormones.

The USA dismissed the studys findings as misleading.

The European Commission ordered the study after the World Trade Organisation (WTO) ruled last year that the ban violated multilateral trade rules.

The EU had until 13 May to comply with the WTO ruling or provide scientific evidence that hormone-treated meat is unsafe.

Brussels has said it will be unable to meet the deadline because it is still awaiting the results of further scientific studies, not expected before the end of the year.

• US hormone beef could cause cancer – EU, FWi, yesterday (04 May, 1999)
• Crunch approaches in beef hormone battle, FWi, 30 April, 1999
• Trade war looms over beef, FWi, 29 April, 1999
• Europe to ban American beef, FWi, 28 April, 1999
• EU vets vote on US beef ban, FWi, 27 April, 1999
• Beef and bananas on Luxembourg menu, FWi, 26 April, 1999
• Hormone beef ban provocative, FWi, 23 April, 1999
  
• Europe plans to ban all US beef, FWi, 22 April, 1999
  

• Financial Times 05/05/99 page 5
  
• The Guardian 05/05/99 page 25