§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects bovine somatotropin to be licensed for commercial use in the United Kingdom; and if he has assessed there to be a socio-economic appraisal of the consequences of the drug's approval.
§ Mr. MacleanUnder the provisions of Community law, no BST product may be licensed in any member state, before 1 January 1992. No product will be licensed in the United Kingdom thereafter unless our independent scientific advisers tell us that it fully meets all the criteria set down in the Medicines Act and Community legislation. I cannot say when or whether that will happen. The Commission is examining the socio-economic implications of licensing BST and should present a report before October.