The European Commission and the United Sates have reached an agreement to allow more hormone-free U.S. beef onto the European market.
The "in-principle" deal will allow U.S. farmers to export 35,000 tons of beef to the bloc. The increased tonnage will be phased in over seven years, the Washington Times reports. Other countries will also share a further 10,000-ton beef quota.
The deal has the potential to end a long-running dispute over the area's beef import restrictions. However, EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan says that the agreement will not change the overall volume, quality or safety of the beef imported into Europe.
The Washington Times reports that the deal must be endorsed by EU members states and the U.S. It will need to be approved by the European Parliament as well.
