USA stops hormone-free exports
22 July 1999
USA stops ‘hormone-free’ exports
THE USA has temporarily stopped the export of hormone-free beef to the European Union after expressing concern about the product.
The action has been taken in the wake of concern by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) after EU tests showed 12% of the hormone-free beef contained hormone residues.
In April, the EU threatened to block US shipments of the hormone-free beef if US companies did not resolve the problem.
The USDA agreed to require the industry to pay more sampling, and to establish control points to make sure the hormone-treated beef was not mixed with hormone-free beef.
The USA formally announced this week it was levying $116.8 million (£74m) in sanctions against the EU for continuing to uphold an 11-year ban on imports of hormone-treated beef.
- British farmers escape US tariffs, FWi, 19 July, 1999
- WTO gives go-ahead to US tariffs, FWi, 13 July, 1999
- The Times 22/07/99 page 30
- Financial Times 22/07/99 page 6