The European Parliament's Committee on Agriculture recommended on Tuesday 5 November the approval of the agreement increasing the US share of a 45,000 tonnes tariff quota for high-quality beef that can be imported into the EU.
The opinion of the Committee on Agriculture (adopted with 33 votes in favour, 7 against and 3 abstentions) is intended for Parliament's Committee on International Trade, which will decide at the end of November or beginning of December.
Under the agreement, which tries to help end a long-standing EU-USA dispute on ban on imports of hormone-treated beef, the existing beef import quota of 45,000 tonnes will remain unchanged but the US share of it will gradually, over the period of 7 years, increase from 18,500 to 35,000 tonnes. Of the 45,000 tonnes, 35,000 tonnes will be allocated to the United States and the remaining 10,000 tonnes to other eligible suppliers (Australia, Uruguay and Argentina).
For the rapporteur, Herbert Dorfmann (EPP, Italy), “not one more kilogram of beef from abroad will be allowed into the EU”. In addition, this agreement with the United States will protect the interests of EU stakeholders from the risks of an increase in duties on certain EU products. “Imports of hormone-treated beef will continue to be banned”, Mr Dorfmann said. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur) (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)