§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the Veterinary Products Committee discussed bovine somatotropin in 1991; what were the outcomes of these discussions; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GummerThe Committee has discussed BST twice in 1991.
In April it advised that it remained unsatisfied on the animal safety and welfare aspects of certain BST products, and that this should be reflected in the line taken in discussions in the EC Committee for Veterinary Medicinal Products. This advice was accepted.
In May the committee considered an article published in the British Medical Journal on 2 March and reviewed relevant data. It considered it likely that it would be able to confirm its earlier advice that the products could be used without hazard to human health, but wished first to seek the opinions of independent advisors with special expertise in certain of the matters raised.
The committee has also been informed of, but has not discussed, the extension of the Community moratorium on BST use, developments in the CVMP, and the hon. Member's parliamentary questions on the subject.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he intends to review his decision to refuse a product licence for bovine somatotropin; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GummerI shall review the decisions in the light of advice from the Medicines Commission following its consideration of companies' appeals. I have no other plans to review them.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether there are any proposals from member states of the Commission for the EC to end its moratorium on the case of bovine somatotropin; what discussions he has had within the EC on this subject; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GummerThe Commission has made no such proposals and I am aware of none from any member state.