Hormone-Treated Beef Will Mot Enter UK After US Deal, Says Government

The UK government has moved to allay concerns about food safety following a new trade agreement with the United States that allows for an increase in tariff-free beef imports. Officials insist that hormone-treated beef – commonly used in US farming – will remain banned from entering the UK.

The new deal, which permits up to 13,000 metric tonnes of US beef to be imported without tariffs, has raised fears among farmers and consumers that beef raised with growth hormones could make its way into British supermarkets. Growth hormones are widely used in American beef production to increase yield and reduce costs, a practice banned in the UK since 1989 due to safety concerns.

But Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones stressed that food safety standards remain unchanged and will continue to be strictly enforced. “The rules on food standards have not changed and they will not change as a result of the deal,” he said, adding that enforcement agencies will carry out checks capable of detecting hormone traces, with legal consequences for violations.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) confirmed that any US producers wishing to export beef to the UK must demonstrate compliance with British food safety standards through strict monitoring and certification procedures. Border checks will also be carried out to screen for any non-compliant meat.

Still, concerns persist within the UK farming community. Surrey-based beef farmer Ian McCubbine questioned the robustness of enforcement mechanisms. “We’ve spent 50 years building an industry strong on animal welfare and environmental standards. The concern is that US beef could be of lower quality,” he told BBC Radio 4.

Liz Webster, founder of campaign group Save British Farming, also expressed scepticism, posting on social media that the UK’s current border infrastructure may struggle to uphold safety standards. “In exchange for tariff relief on luxury cars, we’ve opened our doors to US beef and ethanol. But as our border checks are barely functioning, how we’ll enforce standards is anyone’s guess,” she wrote.

Consumers have echoed these concerns online, with some pledging to buy only locally-sourced beef and to look for the Red Tractor label, which certifies British-produced meat.

Under the agreement, the UK will also gain expanded access to the US market for its own beef exports, up to a matching volume of 13,000 tonnes at reduced tariffs. The deal further includes lower duties on UK-made cars exported to the US and on US ethanol imports into the UK.

While the government insists that health and safety regulations will remain intact, the issue has reignited debate over food standards in future trade agreements and the balance between economic gains and public trust.