§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will make a statement on clenbuterol usage in beef production.
§ Mr. SoamesClenbuterol is one of the family of beta-agonist drugs. It is the active ingredient in five veterinary medicines licensed in the United Kingdom for use in treating respiratory ailments in cattle and horses and as an aid to cattle at the time of calving. They are available30W only on prescription from a veterinary surgeon. When fed to cattle at high dosages, clenbuterol has been found to improve the lean content of the carcase. Clenbuterol has not been licensed in the United Kingdom or any other member state for such a purpose and any such use would therefore be illegal.
Surveillance for residues of clenbuterol in meat is carried out in Great Britain under the national surveillance scheme for live animals and fresh meat on farms and in slaughterhouses. No clenbuterol positives have been identified from samples taken under this scheme in Great Britain since testing for clenbuterol began in August 1989.
Separate arrangements, directed at retail and wholesale premises, cover both imported and domestic supplies of meat and two clenbuterol positive samples were reported in 1992. Neither was likely to have posed any threat to human health, but it was not possible to establish whether the samples originated in Great Britain or elsewhere. Because of the evidence of abuse of clenbuterol outside Great Britain, surveillance is being increased this year.
A number of reports of illegal sale of clenbuterol in Great Britain have been investigated in the past 18 months, but our inquiries have not produced any evidence to support the allegations.
§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will outline the steps taken to(a) prevent meat with clenbuterol in it from entering the country and (b) prevent clenbuterol from being used in meat in Britain.
§ Mr. SoamesAll member states are required to submit to the Commission annually details of their national plans for the examination for residues, including clenbuterol, in live animals and fresh meat. Similar arrangements apply in respect of third countries importing meat into the Community.
Ongoing surveillance in Great Britain for clenbuterol in imported meat is carried out under a scheme, co-ordinated by the working party on veterinary residues in animal products, which is directed at retail and wholesale premises, and extends to both imported and domestic supplies. Because of the evidence of abuse of clenbuterol outside Great Britain, surveillance is being increased this year. A new sampling programme for imported meat will also commence shortly under which samples of imported bovine tissues will be collected and analysed for clenbuterol residues.
In Great Britain, under the Animals, Meat and Meat Products (Examination for Residues and Maximum Residue Limits) Regulations 1991, as amended, it is an offence to sell or supply for slaughter for human consumption, an animal which has been administered clenbuterol illegally for growth promotion purposes.
No prosecutions have been taken under this provision. A number of reports of illegal sale of clenbuterol in Great Britain have been investigated in the past 18 months, but our inquiries have not produced any evidence to support the allegations.