The EU ban, in place since 1997, has effectively stopped all imports of US poultry meat.
Agriculture ministers, meeting in Brussels, yesterday voted against the attempted move by the European Commission.
The proposal from the Commission last May then met with opposition from numerous MEPs.
MEPs, speaking in the Parliament's Environment Committee at the time, said the chlorination of chicken intended for human consumption is not acceptable for the EU and would threaten the community's entire set of food production standards.
French Socialist MEP Anne Ferreira said that lifting the ban would be "totally absurd". She was supported by John Bowis (EPP-ED, UK), who said it would be "outrageous" and would degrade EU citizens to the status of "guinea pigs".
