§ Mr. Bestasked the Secretary of State for Wales what evidence he has of the abuse of addition of hormones to beef cattle; and if he will consider banning the use of hormones in beef cattle.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsI have no evidence of illegal administration of hormones to beef cattle in Wales. The use of all hormones and hormonal substances as growth promoters in farm animals, with the exception of five specified substances, has been prohibited in the European Community since 1982.
All growth promotion products containing hormones or hormonal substances must be licensed under the Medicines Act 1968. Licences under the Act are granted only after a thorough evaluation of data related to the safety, quality and efficacy of the products to be licensed, including the safety of consumers of produce from treated animals.
780WThe European Commission has recently published new proposals which would restrict further the use of hormones in farm animals. Interested organisations are currently being consulted about these proposals.