US presses for tallow ban exemption

08 August 1997

US presses for tallow ban exemption

THE US is putting pressure on the European Commission to invoke a temporary exemption on US tallow producers from European meat safety rules.

Failure to get an exemption could cost the US $100m a year (£61m) in lost exports. It would also pose problems for Europes pharmaceuticals and cosmetics industries, in which tallow is used extensively.

The ban on cattle parts most at risk of carrying bovine spongiform encephalopathy, including tallow, comes into force in January. A trade war had threatened, but Washington agreed to suspend retaliatory action in an effort to find a long-term solution.

Some European officials warned the USs proposals were impossible to grant.