Why does Canada have a hormone-free cattle program?
The World Trade Organization (WTO) has agreed with Canada’s view that beef from cattle treated with growth hormones in accordance with approved methods is safe and that the EU ban on the importation of beef from such cattle is not based on science and therefore contravenes the provisions of the WTO Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures. The EU lost a WTO Panel and appeal in this case, yet has still refused to lift the hormones ban. While Canada continues to press the EU to remove its ban, we have developed this program to accommodate Canadian industry interested in exporting beef to the EU.
