§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any information relating to the use of beta-agonists as growth promoters; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GummerVeterinary medicinal products cannot be placed on the market unless a product licence has been issued under the Medicines Act 1968. No such licences have been issued for the use of beta-agonists as growth promoters.
In Great Britain, members of the state veterinary service carry out a regular programme of surveillance at slaughterhouses and on farms for veterinary residues in animal products, including tests for the beta-agonists clenbuterol and salbutamol. These employ extremely sensitive procedures to detect residues of beta-agonists. No evidence of abuse has been detected.
We also have a monitoring programme on meat and offal for retail sale from all sources, as part of routine food
524W
§ Mr. CurryThe information requested is shown in the table.
safety surveillance. Under this programme we shall be testing residues of beta-agonists in imported meat to ensure that we guard against the alleged problems in other countries.