WTO to rule against EU in long-running beef hormone dispute

28 March 2008

GENEVA – The World Trade Organisation will rule next week against the European Union in a 12-year-old dispute over beef treated with hormones.

The Associated Press has learned that the ruling will permit the U.S. and Canada to continue sanctioning European products such as Roquefort cheese, truffles and Dijon mustard to the tune of tens of millions of euros.

Brussels argues that the hormones pose a risk to human health. But the WTO has backed Canada and the U.S. in ruling that the bans have been unscientific.

The WTO’s latest panel decision will be made public on Monday. It rejects that the EU has properly assessed risks before banning hormones in beef imports, according to a summary obtained by the AP.