WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/DS26/17/Add.4
WT/DS48/15/Add.4
11 May 1999
(99-2014)
Original:  English
EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES – MEASURES CONCERNING
MEAT AND MEAT PRODUCTS (HORMONES)
Status Report by the European Communities
Addendum
The following communication, dated 11 May 1999, from the Permanent Delegation of the
European Commission to the Chairman of the Disput e Settlement Body, is circulated in accordance
with Article 21.6 of the DSU.
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Status Report on the Implementation of the Recommendations and Rulings
in the dispute regarding European Communities – Measures Concerning
Meat and Meat Products (Hormones)
Pursuant to Article 21.6 of the DSU, the European Community wishes to make the fifth status
report to the DSB on the progress made towards implementing its rulings and recommendations of the
DSB concerning the Community’s prohibition on imports of bovine meat and meat products of
animals treated with six growth hormones.
As we informed this Body already in January 1998, in light of the ruling of the Appellate
Body, the Community initiated its reflections on how to implement the DSU rulings and
recommendations.  As a first step, the Community decided to launch without delay a complementary
risk assessment, with a view to assessing the implications thereof for the Community’s import
prohibition.
Scientific evidence was submitted to the Commission by the independent Scientific
Committee on Veterinary Measures relating to Public Health (SCVPH) responsible for this issue on30 April 1999. On the basis of that evidence, the Community is not in a position to lift its existing
import ban by 13 May 1999.  In addition a separate draft report focusing on control issues and
problems of misuse has been prepared and sent for comments to the US and Canadian authorities.
The entire scientific information in question has been made publicly available and has in
particular been shared with the US and Canada, in order to facilitate a thorough and transparent
dialogue on this issue.
The Community now intends to study in more depth these results in order to evaluate on this
basis and in the light of any new relevant information what steps may be necessary in light of our
WTO rights and obligations.
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