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Yonkers, New York
June 30, 1999U.S. and Europe Agree to Disagree on Safety
of Dairy Hormone
Action by U.N. Food Body Means Disputes About Safety of Hormone in Milk Will Linger
Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, praised a decision today by the U.N.'s
main food safety body, the Codex Alimentarius Commission, not to endorse the safety of
recombinant bovine growth hormone (rbGH), a genetically-engineered hormone produced by
Monsanto that is designed to increase dairy cows' milk output.
Codex officially agreed to shelve any further discussion of a U.S.-backed
proposal to set a Maximum Residue Level for rbGH--known as bovine somatropin (BST) in
Europe--in milk in light of vigorous opposition from other nations that still question the
hormone's safety. By indefinitely shelving the
proposal, Codex acknowledged the deep division between countries such as the
U.S., that insist rbGH is safe and countries like those of the European
Union, where rbGH has not been approved due to nagging safety concerns.
"By refusing to set a standard today, Codex has recognized that there is no
consensus on rbGH safety in the international scientific community, and that
national governments should be able to decide whether rbGH should be
permitted in their milk supply," said Jean Halloran, Director of the
Consumer Policy Institute at Consumers Union.
The U.S. has pushed Codex to adopt a standard to ensure the continued export
of its dairy products from cows treated with the rbGH drug. However,
U.S.-driven efforts to persuade the international community that rbGH is
safe have been blocked twice before at Codex, in 1995 and again in 1997,
primarily by opposition from European governments.
Today's action by Codex leaves the door open for countries to exclude dairy
imports treated with the hormone. While rbGH is not yet the subject of a
trade dispute like the one currently pending on hormones used on beef
cattle, it could erupt as a future trade issue.
In countries where rbGH is legal, including the U.S., Mexico, and South
Africa, the hormone is injected into dairy cows to raise milk production.
In the U.S., where rbGH use has been approved since 1993, the government has repeatedly
argued that the hormone's use poses no significant risks to
public health, and that its risks to the health of dairy cattle are
"manageable."
However the controversial hormone has been banned in Canada and its use is
subject to a moratorium the European Union. The EU has already issued two
detailed scientific reports raising questions about human and animal health
issues that arise when the hormone is used, and will decide at the end of
1999 whether to continue its current moratorium. Canada banned the hormone
in January on grounds of its effects on the health of dairy cows, because
cows treated with rbGH are more likely to contract udder infections which
are treated with antibiotics.
Consumers Union advocates labeling dairy products from rbGH-treated cows.
Today at the Codex meeting, the U.S. acknowledged that consumers in many
countries oppose rbGH use because of possible public health impacts, animal
welfare concerns, or both. The U.S. has argued in written comments to Codex
that milk and dairy products can be labeled at the national level to address
these consumer concerns.
"We are gratified that the international food safety process has held out
for a higher degree of consumer protection than the U.S. thinks is
necessary," said CU's Jean Halloran. She added, "Consumers around the world
should thank the Codex Commission for its common sense. And Consumers in the U.S. will
most likely want to start a dialogue with our government to
explore labeling as one way to address consumer concerns about rbGH."
Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, is an independent, nonprofit
testing and information-gathering organization, serving only the consumer.
We are a comprehensive source of unbiased advice about products and
services, personal finance, health, nutrition, and other consumer concerns.
Since 1936, our mission has been to test products, inform the public, and
protect consumers.
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