Council confirms its decision to maintain the existing EU legislation on ractopamine

The Council adopted conclusions on the follow-up to the adoption by the Codex Alimentarius Commission during its session on 2-7 July 2012 of a maximum residue limit (MRL) for ractopamine in beef and pork meat.

The Council:

• Regretting the adoption of an international standard setting maximum residue levels (MRLs) for ractopamine in beef and pork meat by the Codex Alimentarius Commission at its 35th session through a simple majority vote, where the majority outnumbered the minority by merely two votes;
• Considering that adoption of Codex standards by slim majority voting, rather than by a mechanism based on consensus, which is a fundamental principle of the organisation, undermines the credibility and universal acceptance of the standards;
• Underlining that the use of veterinary drugs as growth promoters, and the import of meat from animals treated with these substances is strictly prohibited in the European Union;
• Stressing that the policy of the European Union towards ractopamine is based on persisting scientific uncertainty about the safety of products derived from animals treated with this substance, in line with the EFSA opinion of 2009, and also takes into account concerns on animal health and animal welfare that are widely felt among its Member States;

Confirms its decision to maintain the existing EU legislation on beta-agonists, which bans the use of, and the import of meat from animals treated with growth promoters such as ractopamine.