STC Number - 146
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Ban on hormones in animal production

Maintained by: Indonesia
Raised by: United States of America
Supported by: Australia; Canada; Mexico
First date raised: November 2002 G/SPS/R/28 paras. 83-86
Dates subsequently raised:
Number of times subsequently raised: 0
Relevant documents: G/SPS/N/IDN/17 RD/SPS/114
Products covered: 0102 Live bovine animals.; 0201 Meat of bovine animals, fresh or chilled.; 0202 Meat of bovine animals, frozen.
Primary subject keyword: Food safety
Keywords: Food safety; Human health
Status: Resolved
Solution: In October 2013, information was received from the United States on the resolution of this STC (RD/SPS/114, of 29 October 2020).
Date reported as resolved: 16/10/2013

Extracts from SPS Committee meeting summary reports

In November 2002, the representative of the United States stated that the implementation of this regulation would effectively ban the use of several growth hormones and there was no scientific evidence to support this measure. US regulatory agencies had been conducting research since the 1950s on the use and safety of approved growth hormones. A consensus had been reached regarding the safety of these hormones if used with good veterinary practices. The United States requested Indonesia to put forward scientific data in support of its proposed ban. In the event that no scientific data existed, the United States requested Indonesia to reconsider this proposal as soon as possible.

The representative of Canada, supported by Australia and Mexico, expressed concerns regarding Indonesia's apparent import ban on live cattle and beef derived from cattle treated with synthetic growth hormones. A number of questions surrounding the risk-based nature of these measures were highlighted, particularly given the precedence established in the WTO regarding measures prohibiting growth hormones. They requested Indonesia to indicate whether it had conducted a risk assessment and to provide the details of the risk based rational for its measures.

The representative of the European Communities clarified its position with respect to hormones. He noted that there was a WTO finding on the issue and that it was the EC's intention to bring its legislation into compliance with the ruling of the panel. Much work had been undertaken in this regard and the European Communities expected to soon be able to ensure that the EC ban was fully compatible with the WTO.

The representative of Indonesia noted that his country had not yet implemented the regulation, but had notified to Members the fact that they were going to amend the decree concerning classification of veterinary drugs. Although Indonesia had not yet banned hormone growth promoters, there were some reasons to believe that growth hormones could be hazardous to human health, due in part to the fact that developed countries' consumption patterns were different to those in Indonesia. He further noted that the use of hormone growth promoters in poultry had been banned internationally.

In October 2013, the Secretariat informed that in September 2013 it had contacted all Members who had raised specific trade concerns (STCs) that had not been discussed in the previous year, to request an update on their status. In furtherance of this request, information was received from the United States on the resolution of this STC. In November 2020, the Secretariat indicated that the information received had been circulated in document RD/SPS/114, of 29 October 2020, and that the SPS IMS would be updated on this basis, using the date of the October 2013 SPS Committee meeting as the date of resolution of the relevant STCs.