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European Union

EU Ministers Reaffirm Hormone Ban

Despite losing its case to the United States in the World Trade Organization (WTO), European Union farm ministers reaffirmed the EU ban (December 16) on using growth promotants in cattle, citing what they termed scientific advice that they pose a risk to human health.

The ministers, according to Reuters, will present new evidence to the WTO in hopes of convincing the world trade body to drop the $116.8 million of sanctions Washington is allowed to impose on EU goods each year since July 1999.

The European Commission claims new scientific evidence shows that one of the hormones, oestradiol 17-B, causes cancer and the other five are potentially dangerous to humans.

The United States is considering launching a new WTO trade case against the EU for its de facto ban on imports of genetically modified corn.