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Crunch approaches in beef hormone battle

- 30 April 1999
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30 April 1999

Crunch approaches in beef hormone battle

By Philip Clarke, Europe Editor

THE long-running battle between the European Union (EU) and the USA over beef hormones appears to be coming to a head.

The deadline for the EU to lift its 10-year-old import ban on hormone-treated beef is less than two weeks away and it is still unclear how the situation will be resolved.

A World Trade Organisation ruling 15 months ago gave the EU until 13 May to end the embargo or prove that there was a human health risk from hormone treated beef.

The EU subsequently launched a total of 17 risk assessments.

The interim results of the assessments are being considered by the Scientific Committee on Veterinary Matters Relating to Public Health in Brussels today (Friday).

Their findings should give the commission a steer on how the research is going and will influence its next move.

Senior commission staff will be meeting over the weekend to weigh up the options.

But final results from the studies will not be available until the end of the year at the earliest, and it seems unlikely the ban will be lifted before then.

The USA has drawn up a hit list of up to $900 million (£555m) of EU products on which it will charge 100% import duties in case the EU misses the 13 May deadline.

US cattlemen estimate they are losing $500m (£310m) because of the EU ban and the list will be fine-tuned over the next few weeks to a value more in line with that figure.

As an alternative to import taxes, the USA is also involved in negotiations with the EU on possible compensation package for the loss of export earnings.

It is discussing a labelling scheme, whereby US beef could come into the EU declaring country of origin and, possibly, the method of production.

Farmer and consumer groups in Europe continue to resist the lifting of the ban, arguing that safe and quality food products must respect European standards.

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