Brussels, 26/04/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 26 April, the EU Council of Ministers adopted without debate the regulation increasing the autonomous tariff quota for imports of top quality beef and veal, a text that allows the EU to put an end to the longstanding dispute with the United States and Canada on the trade of meat from cattle treated with hormones (see EUROPE 10574 and 10542). The agreement allows the EU to keep the ban on imports of hormone-treated meat in place, in exchange for a rise in tariff quotas for imports of top quality meat from the United States and Canada. The regulation increases the annual Community tariff quota for imports into the EU of top quality American and Canadian meat from cattle not treated with growth hormones from the current 20,000 tonnes to 48,200 tonnes. The new tariff quota for imports will take effect in August 2012. (LC/transl.jl)