§ Mr. SimpsonTo ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what powers the United Kingdom has to sustain its ban on the import of meat products from animals reared using growth hormones if this is ruled to be illegal under GATT. [17475]
§ Mrs. Browning[holding answer 4 April 1995]: The ban to which the hon. Member refers results from a European regulation. The UK voted against its adoption on the grounds that it was not justified scientifically. The legality of the ban has not so far been tested in the GATT. Were there to be a successful challenge we should, in 1109W conjunction with our EU partners, need to respond appropriately under the rules of the World Trade Organisation on the settlement of disputes.