EU opposes ractopamine limit

By Kitty So

- Last updated on GMT

Related tags European union

The European Union (EU) is opposing a decision to create an international limit on the use of ractopamine, a fattening agent for pigs and cattle, arguing that the substance should not be used at all because of potential health risks to humans.

Responding to a vote at the Codex Alimentarius Commission, the world’s global food standards body, a European Commission communiqué said it would continue to ban ractopamine in all 27 EU member states, in domestic meat production and in imports: “[The] EU bans imports of meat from certain countries because they use it [ractopamine], and we intend to continue to do so,”​ said Frédéric Vincent, a Commission health and consumer policy spokesperson.

Several countries, including China, Russia, and India, also oppose ractopamine use, said the communiqué.

The Codex Commission proposed a set amount of ractopamine to be considered safe for human consumption at the annual meeting of its 185 member countries (held 2-7 July). The United Nations (UN) created Codex to set international food quality and safety guidelines.

Codex based the limit on a risk assessment of acceptable levels of ractopamine consumption by a UN and World Trade Organization joint committee, said the European Food Safety Authority, which has rejected the findings because of claimed “weakness and uncertainties”.

Related topics Meat

Related news

Follow us

Products

View more

Webinars