§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what safety assessments he has made of the use of antibiotics as growth promoters in farm animals; and if he will make a statement. [92039]
§ Mr. RookerThe use of additives in animal feedingstuffs, including antibiotic growth promoters, is controlled in the EU by Council Directive 70/524/EEC as amended. No feed additive is permitted unless it satisfies criteria of safety and efficacy. Recent concerns about the development of microbial resistance to antibiotics has led to a ban on the use of four antibiotic growth promoters in the EU, which took effect on 1 July 1999. The Government are advised on the use of antibiotics as growth promoters by the independent scientific Veterinary Products Committee, which is keeping the matter under close review.