Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 May 1999

Vol. 505 No. 3

Written Answers. - Hormone Treated Beef.

John Gormley

Question:

48 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his attention has been drawn to the comments made on 18 May 1999 by the United States delegates to the World Meat Congress in Dublin to the effect that the US was not prepared to accept a compromise to avoid a trade war with the EU over hormone treated beef; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13646/99]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

I am fully aware of the current US perspective in relation to the EU hormone ban. Indeed, together with US agriculture secretary Glickmann, Commissioner Fischler and the secretary general of my Department, I participated in a session of the World Meat Congress on 19 May at which this was one of the issues discussed.

This has been a long running dispute which arises from the European Union ban on hormone treated beef in 1988. I have already expressed my support for the European Commission's position that there can be no question of lifting the ban now. The outcome of proceedings under the WTO and the proposed retaliatory action by the US has clearly made the dispute more difficult. I have also expressed my support for continued dialogue between the EU and the US in order to avoid a trade war on this issue.