HC Deb 19 November 1962 vol 667 cc83-4W
17. Commander Kerans

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will take steps to ban the use of sex hormones on animals.

Mr. Soames

The use of synthetic oestrogens for fattening livestock has been kept under review by the Agricultural Research Council in consultation with the Medical Research Council and by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health's Standing Committee on the Medical and Nutritional Aspects of Food Policy. On the available evidence, it does not appear that a ban on these 'substances would be justified on the ground of hazard to the consumer.