Hormones

This chapter addresses the international regulatory disputes and scientific debates over the use of growth-promoting hormones in cattle breeding. Focusing on the World Trade Organization's (WTO) ‘EC–Hormones’ case, it examines the legal tensions between the European Union's precautionary health measures and the trade rules advocated by countries like the United States and Canada. The WTO Dispute Settlement Body ruled against the EU's hormone ban due to insufficient scientific risk assessment, as mandated by the SPS Agreement. It highlights the Codex Alimentarius's quasi-binding standards for hormone residues and the challenges posed by differing interpretations of food safety. The WTO's rejection of the precautionary principle in this case sparked debates over balancing trade liberalization with health protection. The chapter concludes by underscoring the role of sound science in global food safety governance while pointing to unresolved tensions between precautionary measures and free trade in regulatory practices for food and agricultural products.