HC Deb 25 November 1981 vol 13 c420W
Mr. Teddy Taylor

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why the veterinary use of the drug stilboestrol has been banned.

Mrs. Fenner

Article 3 of the Council directive 81/602/EEC of 31 July requires member States to prohibit the placing on the market of stilbenes, stilbene derivatives, their salts and esters—which includes stilboestrol—and thyrostatic substances for administering to animals of all species. Article 2 of the directive further provides for a prohibition on the administration of stilbenes to farm animals. We are currently considering how the directive may best be implemented.