§ Mr. Tim Smithasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the Government intend to proceed with their case in the European Court challenging European Communities directive 85/649 prohibiting the use in livestock farming of certain substances having a hormonal action.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonYes. The Government's application to the European Court of Justice to annul directive 85/649/EEC will continue to be pursued.
§ Mr. Tim Smithasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consultations he had with the animal health industry between the adoption of European Communities directive 85/649 and his announcement on 18 August that he intended to lay regulations banning the use of animal growth-promoting hormones from 1 December.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonClose contact with the product licence holders of products containing hormone growth promoters has been maintained over a long period on this contentious issue.
§ Mr. Tim Smithasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what criteria he uses in assessing scientific evidence on what constitutes a potential danger to consumers; how these criteria were operated in respect of the Medicines (Hormone Growth Promoters) (Prohibition of Use) Regulations 1986; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonThe criteria to be used by Agriculture and Health Ministers in licensing medicinal products are laid down in the Medicines Act 1968. They require Agriculture and Health Ministers to be satisfied as to the safety, quality and efficacy of any product before it is licensed. We have repeatedly argued in Brussels that the information available on safety, including the safety of consumers, fully justified licensing products containing the five hormone growth promoters. As my hon. Friend knows, our views did not prevail. The regulations which have now been made to implement the ban on these substances have been made under the European Communities Act and not the Medicines Act.