HC Deb 23 May 1990 vol 173 cc211-2W
Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many sites are currently producing milk from cows injected with bovine somatotropin; what is the number of cows currently involved in bovine somatotropin experiments; and what is the quantity of milk collected for sale from cows injected with bovine somatotropin.

Mr. Maclean

I understand that under the terms of their animal test certificates the companies concerned are currently treating 71 cows on three sites with manufactured BST. These cows produce approximately 1,560 litres of milk daily.

Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the occasions within the last 12 months(a) he, (b) his officials and (c) members of the veterinary products committee have met representatives of Monsanto to discuss bovine somatotropin; what was the nature of these discussions; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Maclean

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the replies I gave him on 13 December. Additional meetings have been held on ten occasions by officials of the veterinary medicines directorate with representatives of Monsanto to discuss questions of safety, quality or efficacy arising from the company's product licence application.

Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the nature of recent representations received from the National Farmers Union in respect of bovine somatotropin; and what other recent representations has he received on this subject.

Mr. Maclean

I have received no recent representations from the NFU on this subject. I have received a considerable number of representations from others expressing a variety of views.

Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what other European Community countries are currently undertaking research into bovine somatotropin, which involves the injection of dairy cows; and which of those countries permit milk from cows injected with bovine somatotropin to be collected and sold unlabelled to the public.

Mr. Maclean

I understand that companies are currently carrying out such trials in France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands. Milk is collected and sold unlabelled to the public in all of these countries except the Netherlands.

Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has made an assessment of the implications for the farming industry of the possible introduction of bovine somatotropin; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Maclean

No. To produce an assessment of any value would require more detailed data than are yet available, and a variety of assumptions about the commercial application of bovine somatotropin were it to be approved.