§ Mr. Whitakerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence he has concerning the possibility of danger to humans or animals from the arsenical, antibiotic, and hormone content of certain animal feeding-stuffs.
§ Mr. John MackieProvided these compounds are used properly there is no evidence of a hazard to human beings or animals. My right hon. Friend receives advice from various scientific bodies on these matters. Most antibiotics are subject to regulation under the Therapeutic Substances Act, 1956, and like arsenical and hormonal substances, to notification under the Veterinary Products Safety Precautions Scheme. There are also other safeguards under the Fertilisers and Feeding Stuffs Act, 1926, and under the Food and Drugs Act, 1955.
A Joint Committee of the Agricultural and Medical Research Councils has recommended that an appropriate body should consider the evidence about the use of antibiotics in animal husbandry and veterinary medicine and its implications for public health. This recommendation has been accepted in principle.