In light of the assumption that the use of hormones in promoting the growth of cattle may lead to risks to human health, European authorities began to enact regulations to prohibit the use of such hormones. The law also requires a trade ban over the meat carrying such veterinary drug residues. The United States and Canada, while permitting the use of hormones, suffered heavily from the trade restrictions. After the failure of consultations with Europe, these two countries filed a complaint at the World Trade Organization (WTO), alleging that the European measures violate the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS).
The 1998 WTO ruling sided with the complaints. Yet, there was no sign that the trade ban would be lifted. The trade regime then authorized the complaining parties to apply sanctions against Europe. Followin
g the verdict, Europe continued to conduct research on hormones and made every effort to provide more definite risk assessments and to offer more convincing scientific evidence. Europe was confident that its newly adopted hormones directives complied with relevant obligations of the SPS Agreement, and appealed to its counterparts to terminate the retaliation. When no consensus was reached, Europe decided to bring the dispute to the WTO for adjudication on the continuing sanctions. The new proceeding offers a good opportunity for reviewing the compatibility of such regulations with European obligations under trade agreements.
With respect to substantial issues, it is found that the Panel took a narrow stance on the consistency of the European directives with the SPS agreement. In contrast, the AB reversed the panel’s approach and was inclined to favor the European argument regarding possible risks arising from hormones, although it refrained from deciding on the legality of such new measures.
Article 5.1 of the SPS Agreement requires WTO members to base their SPS measures on risk assessment. First, the Panel rejected the misuse or abuse of hormones as a factor in defining an appropriate risk assessment. Yet, the AB sided with Europe and overruled the Panel. This approach appears to add a non-science element to risk assessment, reshaping a process that should be based entirely on science.