§ Mr. Biffenasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the latest evidence of any adverse consequences of consuming eggs from poultry whose feed includes therapeutic antibiotics; and what proposals he has to see that such eggs are not offered for human consumption.
§ Mr. StrangThe incorporation of therapeutic antibiotics in feed for laying poultry is banned in the United Kingdom, except on veterinary prescription in a disease outbreak. Our main overseas supplier, France, operates a similar ban. There is, therefore, no recent evidence of 135W adverse consequences in the United Kingdom. The hon. Member will be interested to know that tests recently completed by the laboratory of the Government Chemist have found no evidence of residues of antibiotics in home-produced eggs or in imported French eggs.