§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will amplify their answer to his Question of 4th June on making public the research findings concerning the possible licensing for use in cows of the genetically engineered hormone BST so that they may be examined by the scientific community; and whether the Answer of 13th June from Baroness Hooper (HL Deb. col. 398) means that the question of the possible effects on humans is being studied only by the manufacturing companies and the Veterinary Products Committee, and not by any expert body directly concerned with human, as distinct from animal, health.
§ The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Baroness Trumpington)A great deal of information about BST and its effects has been published by those who have undertaken scientific research. The Government have in addition had access to unpublished material submitted by companies for assessment by the Veterinary Products Committee, but are constrained by the Medicines Act from making it public. The Veterinary Products Committee is an expert body directly concerned with human health. Its responsibilities are to advise Ministers on the safety, quality and efficacy of veterinary medicines, which includes the safety of people handling the medicine and of consumers of food produced from treated animals. Its membership reflects this remit and includes toxicologists and others whose primary expertise relates to human health. The committee can also ask for advice from the Department of Health's expert committees on toxicity, carcinogenicity and mutagenicity and on the medical aspects of food policy and frequently does so.