restrictions on ractopamine in beef and pork in october 2008 the united states stated that the us pork industry had suffered for more than a year due to the lack of science-based maximum residue limits mrl for ractopamine in chinese taipei. chinese taipei had previously notified the sps committee of its science-based decision regarding ractopamine but then had failed to implement the measure as proposed. us exports had dropped due to the need to source pork from animals not treated with ractopamine in order to meet the zero-tolerance requirements. the united states urged chinese taipei to implement its notified measure which would facilitate us pork exports. canada stated that its authorities had approved the use of ractopamine as an ingredient in pig feed since july 2005 and in cattle feed since may 2007. health canada had concluded that the product was safe to use after conducting several tests. canada encouraged all members to accept the use of ractopamine as long as residues in edible tissues were within the safe levels. chinese taipei stated that the use of ractopamine was forbidden by many wto members. the codex alimentarius commission had also been unable to make a final decision on mrls for ractopamine. the representative of codex reported that the mrls for ractopamine had been extensively discussed but no conclusion had yet been reached. codex invited members to submit more information regarding ractopamine for consideration by the next codex commission meeting. the european communities reported that it had consulted the european food safety authority efsa on the safety of ractopamine including the establishment of mrls. the european communities hoped to have the information by early 2009 which could be sent to the fao who joint expert committee on food additives jecfa for further evaluation. in october 2009 brazil noted that extensive discussions on this matter occurred during the last two sessions of the codex alimentarius commission and at the 18th session of the codex committee on residues of veterinary drugs in foods. despite the evidence presented by jecfa an mrl had not been adopted by the codex. brazil was concerned about the repeated postponement of a decision in spite of the existence of strong scientific evidence in favour of the adoption of this mrl. since an mrl was needed in order to facilitate international trade brazil hoped that a decision would be made at the next meeting of the codex commission. canada noted that canadian exporters had also experienced trade difficulties in several markets due to the absence of an mrl for ractopamine. in 2005 health canada approved the use of ractopamine in swine feed and established an mrl for ractopamine in pork. canada supported the adoption by codex of the proposed mrls for ractopamine and was pleased when in september 2007 the codex committee on residues of veterinary drugs in foods recommended the adoption of ractopamine mrls at ste 8. canada was disappointed that this was not adopted at the 2009 codex commission meeting and expressed hope that it would be adopted at the 2010 meeting. the united states stated that adoption of international standards for ractopamine should be an important priority for all wto members. years of scientific evidence proved that ractopamine could be used safely. ractopamine had been approved by over 25 countries and was currently at ste 8 in the codex process. some members however imposed ractopamine bans without sufficient scientific evidence to support them. codex had not adopted the draft mrls at the 2009 commission meeting because of a request from a major trading partner that one further scientific review be done by jecfa. the united states urged that trading partner to provide jecfa with the necessary information so that this study could be completed and expressed the hope that the codex commission would move forward with adoption of the standard once that study was complete. the european communities noted that last year efsa which was responsible fo