§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the moratorium on the use of BST in(a) the UK and (b) the EU; and if he will make a statement. [102762]
§ Ms QuinA report by the Government's independent scientific advisory body, the Veterinary Products Committee (VPC), was published on 11 October and a copy of the report was placed in the Library of the House. We accepted the VPC's advice to support a continuation of the moratorium or equivalent measures which prohibit the use of recombinant BST. The European Commission has proposed a ban on the use of the recombinant BST with effect from 1 January 2000. The Government supports that proposal.