§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number of farms, their locations, the number of cows and which companies are licensed for the testing of bovine somatotropin in England; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GummerCyanamid, Lilly Industries and Monsanto are currently authorised to conduct field trials using BST products. Trials involving 70 cows are currently taking place on three farms in the United Kingdom. As the hon. Member is already aware, section 118 of the Medicines Act precludes me from disclosing further details.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether his Veterinary Products Committee is to consider the possible adverse effects of bovine somatotropin on the human stomach; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GummerThe VPC considered this aspect in relation to two BST products before advising me last year that their use would pose no risk to human safety. I assume that the hon. Member is referring to a recent article on this subject in theBritish Medical Journal. I am asking the VPC to consider this paper in case it contains new data which they will wish to assess.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he now intends to allow the introduction of bovine somatotropin; whether the Veterinary Products Committee has considered the matter further; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GummerThe VPC has advised me that applications from Lilly Industries and Monsanto to license BST products should be refused for reasons of animal safety. Both companies have said they will be taking up their right to appeal to the Medicines Commission and to generate additional data for consideration there. I certainly do not intend to license any BST product while these expert committees continue to advise me not to.