HC Deb 18 April 1972 vol 835 cc213-4
10. Mrs. Joyce Butler

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will seek powers to ban the use of stilboestrol as a growth promoter for pigs, in view of its dangers to human health.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. Peter Mills)

The Veterinary Products Committee has advised us that on present information any carcinogenic hazard likely to arise from such use is not sufficient to justify any special controls. However, the Committee made recommendations in relation to injectable oestrogens used in veal production which my right hon. Friend is considering.

Mrs. Butler

But in view of the recent evidence from America that the hormone can produce cancers in daughters of women who were treated with it in pregnancy, is it safe to continue to use it as a feeding stuff for animals produced for meat of any description, particularly as some other countries have banned its use completely?

Mr. Mills

I have seen the article the hon. Lady mentioned. It is important to leave it to the VPC to deal with the matter. It has it under consideration, and when further information becomes available it will put forward its views.

Dr. Stuttaford

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that the main danger arises from any form of stilboestrol implant? Be that as it may, it is a strange situation when we have stringent regulations for the control of this drug when prescribed by a doctor but allow it to be prescribed by the butcher with a pork chop.

Mr. Mills

This is another aspect of the same problem, but, as I have said, the VPC is looking at it and will make its recommendations.

Mr. Wellbeloved

Will the hon. Gentleman tell us why the Government are prepared to allow this potentially dangerous substance to be used but are artificially restraining British production to 41 per cent. of the nation's estimated consumption of bacon?

Mr. Mills

I do not think that that supplementary question has very much to do with the subject. When the Government have set up a committee to deal with these questions, it is wise to allow it to get on with the task and to make its recommendations. That is what is being done.

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