§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many farms in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, respectively, are currently involved in trials of bovine somatotrophin;
157W(2) whether consumers are currently receiving milk deliveries from farms involved in trials of bovine somatotrophin; and if he will make a statement;
(3) what results concerning (a) the farm animal welfare aspects, (b) the economic and production aspects and (c) the human health aspects, respectively, have been ascertained thus far from trials of bovine somatotrophin currently being conducted in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonAs I have made clear on a number of occasions, the applications for animal test certificates for BST were rigorously assessed by the veterinary products committee before being granted. It found no reason to recommend that milk from treated cows should be withheld from human consumption or be subject to any other restriction. The animal test certificates were therefore granted accordingly.
The certificates currently authorise trials on 15 sites in the United Kingdom. However, trials may not be in progress on all sites at any one time. It is not possible to provide separate figures for each region as the small numbers involved might allow identification of some individual farms which might contravene section 118 of the Medicines Act.
The work continuing under these animal test certificates is taking full account of the recommendations of the Farm Animal Welfare Council on this product which were contained in my reply of 17 December 1987 at columns 740–1. No evidence has emerged which would change the veterinary products committee's assessment on human safety. The economic and production aspects of the use of BST are matters for commercial assessment and do not fall under the scope of the Medicines Act.