§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures she is taking to retain the EC moratorium on the use of BST; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will make it her policy to secure a seven-year moratorium on the use of bovine somatotropin.
§ Mr. Soames[holding answer 13 December 1993]: The United Kingdom has always taken the view that the final Community decision on BST should be based on the scientific criteria of safety, quality and efficacy, taking account also of the need to avoid international trading problems, to encourage Community based research industries and to maintain the competitiveness of the Community's agriculture and food based sector. We are considering very carefully the European Commission's recommendation for a ban on the marketing and use of BST against these criteria, and taking into account the representations we have received both for and against a ban, before coming to a view on the matter.