Australia to demand Britain accepts hormone‑treated beef

Reports suggest that Australian government ministers want the UK to lift the EU-wide ban on hormone beef when it leaves the EU, in exchange for a trade deal. They are understood to believe that the restriction, which is based on the precautionary principle, violates World Trade Organisation rules. The Australian meat industry is keen to regain access to UK markets that were lost when Britain joined the EU’s Common Market.

The disputed hormones can increase weight gain in cattle by more than 10 per cent a day, cutting down the time it takes to fatten an animal for market. But the EU claims that at least one of the hormones used is carcinogenic and their use has been banned since 1981. Australia and the United States) argue that the ban is unscientific and is in fact a form of protectionism.

Kath Dalmney, chief executive of Sustain, said:

“Our government is already conducting secret trade discussions which will have a dramatic impact on what we eat. It is unacceptable that this is happening behind closed doors. We want democratic trade negotiations that allow people and our parliament to have a say in trade negotiations. We mustn't drop our food standards for the sake of a quick trade deal.”

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here and the Daily Mail version here You can read the full story in the Times (paywall)