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Hormonal Growth Promoters
This content was archived on June 24, 2013.
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The use of hormonal growth promoters in beef cattle is an issue which has sparked much debate around the world. Hormonal growth promoters (HGPs) are approved for use in Canada and the United States, however, their use is banned in the European Union (EU).
Health Canada's Veterinary Drugs Directorate (VDD) undertook an intensive review of seventeen studies commissioned by the EU to assess scientific information on the toxicity and safety of hormone-treated beef. This review concluded that residues in meat from animals treated with hormonal growth promoters (when administered according to good veterinary practices) pose no undue risk to human health. Further details on this issue are available under Advisories, Warnings & Recalls and Fact Sheets & Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
