§ Mr. WardTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy that all milk produced by cows treated with bovine somatotropin during the trial period is clearly marked as such at the point of sale; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonBefore field trials of veterinary medicines may be undertaken they must be authorised by means of an animal test certificate issued under the Medicines Act 1968. Certificates are issued only after a thorough evaluation of the data available relating to safety of the product. The Veterinary Products Committee, an independent committee of experts in veterinary and human health established under the Medicines Act, considered the evidence and advised that it was satisfied that the trials should proceed. Had there been any doubts the trials would not have been authorised.
As there is no safety hazard from the milk from treated cows there is no reason to impose any conditions on the disposal of milk from the trials.