Term Paper on "Beef Hormones Issue"

Term Paper 10 pages (3296 words) Sources: 1+

[EXCERPT] . . . .

hormones within the cattle industry has given rise to numerous concerns over health issues and has led to international debates.

One of the leading activists against the use of hormones in the cattle industry has been Jeremy Rifkin who has authored numerous books, including "Beyond Beef: The Rise and Fall of the Cattle Culture," warning the public about the dangers of technology and science (Jeremy pp). In 1977, he established the Foundation on Economic Trends, and during the 1980's, Rifkin was a key figure in the movement to restrict bovine growth hormone as a means of increasing milk yields (Jeremy pp). In his 1992 book, "Beyond Beef," Rifkin describes the cattle culture as an industry driven by efficiency and production. When calves reach just under a year old, they are transported to huge mechanized feedlots to be fattened up and readied for slaughter (Rifkin 12).

There are approximately 42,000 feed lots in the thirteen major cattle-feeding states, of which two hundred of the largest feed nearly half the cattle in the United States (Rifkin 12). Generally, feedlots are a fenced area with a concrete feed trough along one side, and in some of the larger feedlots, thousands of cattle are lined up side by side in cramped quarters (Rifkin 12). To obtain the optimum weight gain in the minimum time, feedlot managers administer a "panoply" of pharmaceuticals to cattle, including growth stimulating hormones and feed additives (Rifkin 12). Moreover, anabolic steroids, in the form of small time-release pellets are implanted in the animals' ears for the purpose of stimulating the cells to synthesize additional protein, adding muscle and fat tissue more rapidly (Rifkin 12). Anabolic steroids improve weight gain by five to twenty percent, feed efficiency by five to twelve percent, and lean meat growth by fifteen to twenty-five percent (Rifkin 12). It is believed that over ninety-five percent of all feedlot raised cattle in the United States are currently being administered growth promoting hormones (Rifkin 12).

The dispute between the European Union and the United States and Canada over the European Union's ban on cattle products produced with the use of growth hormones demonstrates the conflicts between health concerns and the trade system and particularly exemplifies the conflict between balancing the need for precaution and the demands of the public with international trade rules (Trade pp). Although the long-term health effects of eating beef products produced growth hormones are uncertain, the European Union maintains it has the right to ban production and imports of these products (Trade pp). The United States claims that there is no scientific proof that any of these products pose a human health danger, yet the World Trade Organization states that a risk assessment that conforms to its procedures must be undertaken before action can proceed (Trade pp).

Beginning in the 1970's the United State's meat industry began using hormones to improve the growth rate of animals in an effort to conserve time and money (Trade pp). In 1981, the European Union began restricting the use of growth hormones within the Union itself, and also began restricting the import of meat and meat products derived from cattle that had been given hormones (Trade pp). During the past years, the European Union have updated and/or amended its regulations several times, generally to include more hormones, however, for the most part, the regulations have remained the same (Trade pp). The dispute at the World Trade Organization concerns the use of six scientifically approved hormones used for cattle growth promotion, estradiol, melengestrol acetate, progesterone, testosterone, trenbolone acetate, and zeranol (Primer pp). All six of these hormones have been used for decades in the United States and several other countries without negative effects on public health, and according to international scientific consensus, including the European Union's own scientists, these approved and licensed products are safe when used in accordance with good veterinary practice (Primer pp).

In 1995, the international food standards body, Codex Alimentarius Commission, adopted standards accepting residue levels of these hormones in meat, and although there was great controversy and disagreement amid Codex members concerning the issue, Codex adopted the standard by only four votes after, it is claimed, the United States Chair forced a secret ballot, an uncommon Codex practice (Trade pp). This overturned an earlier vote against the United States position and gave the U.S. The needed leverage to initiate World Trade Organization proceedings because the Technical Barriers Trade Agreement, TBT, requires internationally accepted standards must be used where they exist, and the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Agreement, SPS, explicitly refers to Codex for the establishment of international food standards (Trade pp).

In 1996, the United States, subject to strong lobbying from Monsanto, a major producer of genetically modified, GM, seeds, and other farming interest groups, filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization which led to the formation of a Panel (Trade pp). An interesting note is that Micky Kantor, the then United States Trade Representative, was responsible for initiating the action in the WTO and is now a board member of Monsanto (Trade pp). Canada also lodged a complaint and the same Panel was used to adjudicate, reporting in August 1997 a ruling against the European Union on several counts, leading the EU to appeal in September 1997 (Trade pp).

In January 1998, the Appellate Body issued a report modifying the Panel's findings, yet still ruling against the European Union ban (Trade pp).

The main reason for the EU ban is fear that the hormones are dangerous and could cause health problems to those who ingest them, however, the ban has proved controversial because of differing opinions on whether the forbidden products are safe for human consumption and also the allowance by the European Union of the hormones into other parts of the food chain (Trade pp). Moreover, according to EU officials, consumers in the EU have expressed a strong preference to eat hormone free meat regardless of its safety (Trade pp). And furthermore, there is an argument for a ban on animal health-husbandry grounds, such as forcing animals to grow faster than they would naturally (Trade pp). Thus, the three central arguments are:

1) The uncertainty or certainty surrounding the science;

2) The legitimacy of EU public demand;

3) Whether the EU ban is discriminatory - i.e. merely an attempt to protect its own farming industry

(Trade pp).

On February 26, 1999, the United States Interagency Task Force on Beef Hormones issued a statement called "A Primer on Beef Hormones" describing the safety standards in use and stating there was no danger to humans (Primer pp). According to the report, three of the hormones in question, estradiol, progesterone and testosterone, are naturally occurring hormones produced by all humans and food animals, while the other three, trenbolone acetate, zeranol and melengestrol acestate, MGA, are synthetic hormones (Primer pp). Trenbolone acetate mimics testosterone, while zeranol mimics estradiol, and melengestrol acestate mimics progesterone (Primer pp). The report states that these six hormones are approved and can be used safely for growth promotion (Primer pp). "A hormone-treated animal gains weight more rapidly, producing a more flavorful and tender product. By reaching market weight sooner, there is a reduction in the cost of beef production. Thus, consumers are provided with a higher quality of meat at lower prices" (Primer pp).

Since the 1950's, the United States Food and Drug Administration, FDA, has been thoroughly researching the effects of growth hormones and it, as well as other scientific experts, have found that there is "essentially no difference between beef from animals raised using hormones and those raised without their use" (Primer pp). In fact, it claims that on all occasions of testing, the six hormones have always been found to pose no measurable or adverse health effects (Primer pp). According to the Primer, there is a "clear world-wide scientific consensus supporting the safety of these approved and licensed hormones when used according to good veterinary practice" (Primer pp). This consensus is reflected in the 1984 and 1987 Lamming Committee reports, consisting of the scientific expert group commissioned by the European Community, the 1987 Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives of the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation, the Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Food, the Codex Alimentarius Commission, the safety assessments of FDA and comparable institutions in many throughout the world, and most recently by the assembly of the world's foremost experts on the subject of the 1995 Scientific Conference convened by the European Commission (Primer pp). The Primer states that the world's scientific community has agreed that estradiol, melengestrol acetate, progesterone, testosterone, trenbolone acetate, and zeranol are safe for food-producing animals when used as per label directions (Primer pp). The United States has an extensive regulatory control system over the use of these hormones that includes comprehensive food safety standards that are based on "sound, internationally-recognized scientific criteria" (Primer pp).

FDA regulations allow the use of hormones only in the form of implants,… READ MORE

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