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Brussels, 16 April 1999
EURO COOP calls on the EU to maintain the ban on hormone-treated beef
Euro Coop takes note of the European Commission Communication which examines three options concerning the European Union (EU) ban on the import of beef from animals which have been treated with hormone growth promoters, and reaffirms its strong opposition to any imports of hormone-treated beef on the European territory.
Considering the three options : (1) to negotiate compensation with the US and Canada until the results of the risk assessment are available, (2) to convert the ban to a provisional measure on the basis that inadequate information is currently available,(3) to lift the ban but require labelling of meat from hormone-treated animals, Euro Coop insists for the ban to be maintained on the basis of the precautionary principle.
Euro Coop stresses the need for additional researches and full risk assessment of the dangers of hormone-treated beef. Indeed, the problem of hormones cannot be defined simply as a trade barrier and human health, cultural, environmental and animal welfare aspects should also be taken into account. For instance, the possible need for further medication of animals as their growth rate increases could lead to a major problem of resistant bacteria and their direct implications on human health. The direct effect on humans of consuming the meat grown with the use of the hormones is not the only issue. There is also, for example, the indirect effect on human health by adding to the rising estrogenic levels in the environment.
If Euro Coop were forced to have a fallback position, we would opt for paying compensation (option 1) in order to maintain the ban. The labelling of meat from hormone-treated animals (option 3) would be very much a last best. Labelling should not be used to solve such fundamental issues and not be used indirectly as a kind of warning label.
Finally Euro Coop wishes to reaffirm the right in general of individual countries to maintain safety standards higher than internationally accepted standards in order to protect its consumers, and in particular the right for consumers to be offered a product in which they have confidence and not to be imposed a product they do not want or which is of no real benefit to them.
Euro Coop believes that the European Community must ensure a high level of consumer health protection and must ensure that an objective, transparent and reliable procedure is followed for the evaluation of the risk in question.
NB: see also previous Euro Coop's statements on the ban of hormone-treated beef of 28 May 1997 and 18 December 1995.
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