Fed: Chemical watchdog gives all clear to growth hormones

AAP General News (Australia)
12-30-2003
Fed: Chemical watchdog gives all clear to growth hormones

Australia's veterinary chemical watchdog has given the all-clear to hormones used to
boost the growth of cattle, denying claims linking the practice to cancer and the early
onset of puberty.

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority has reviewing all scientific
evidence on hormone growth promotants or HGPs and found them safe for continued use.

And it's also found people already eat naturally occurring hormones at higher rates
than those found in cattle given HGPs.

Hormones used by nations such as Australia, Canada and the United States have been
targeted by the European Union which maintains there's evidence to suggest they could
be carcinogenic.

There are also concerns HGPs may be partly responsible for the early onset of puberty.

The EU is in a World Trade Organisation dispute with the US over a European ban on
cattle which have been treated with the hormones.

AAP RTV sw/dl

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KEYWORD: HORMONES (CANBERRA)

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