§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the date of implementation of(a) the EU ban on imports of United States beef and (b) the United States ban on imports of British beef. [31764]
§ Mrs. BrowningI have been asked to reply.
There is no EU ban on imports of United States beef. The United States of America appears on the list of countries approved for the export of bovine animal and meat, amongst other products, to the EU. However, Council directive 88/146/EEC prohibits the importation from third countries of animals and meat from animals which have been administered hormones as growth promoters. The use of such hormones is permitted in the United States and the US authorities are challenging the EU import restriction through World Trade Organisation procedures.
The UK has not received any formal notification from the United States Department of Agriculture of a ban on imports of British beef. However, the United States has not accepted imports of British bone-in beef since 1989. In view of the clear unwillingness of the US authorities to accept such imports, subsequent negotiations have concentrated on securing access to the American market for boneless beef. These were successfully concluded in July 1994 when health certification for the import of British boneless beef was agreed with the USA.