If there are questions about the safety of growth promotants in other countries, why do we use them in the United States?

Growth-promoting products must meet a number of rigorous tests before they are deemed safe, and are approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. They have also been tested and found to be safe for use in a number of countries that, for political or other reasons, have chosen not to approve them for use.

The European “Precautionary Principle” (action should be taken to correct a problem if there is any evidence that harm may occur … the foresight to protect against any possible harm) does not recognize scientifically based risk assessment and analysis as being adequate and, therefore, is very limiting for the adoption of any new technology, not just animal-health products and technology. The precautionary principle that guides our FDA is based on extensive, thorough, conservative, scientifically based research.

1. The USA Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval process is very conservative in their approval of growth-promotant products.
2. Growth-promotant products are approved only after a thorough review of validated, well-supervised, rigorous scientific studies.
3. This thorough, cautionary product approval process assures that the products that are approved for sale will not have any adverse effects on human health, animal health or environmental safety.
4. Beef from cattle implanted with growth promotants is now being eaten by a third generation of consumers without any impact on their health.
5. “We inspect what we expect” … A thorough, ongoing inspection process ensures that there are no product misuses or violations and that all products are used according to their labeled and intended use.
6. The scientific principles that govern our approval process make new technologies and new procedures possible.