§ Dr. WrightTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consideration he has given to the 1990 report of the Veterinary Products Committee in deciding that BST should be licensed.
§ Mr. SoamesIn 1990 the Veterinary Products Committee advised Ministers that, having assessed data on two BST products, it was satisfied that they were efficacious and that their use would not pose any health hazard to consumers of milk from treated animals. On the basis of the data before it, however, the committee was not completely satisfied with some aspects of the safety and welfare of treated animals if used commercially, and could not recommend that a licence be granted. In such circumstances, under the Medicines Act 1968, applicants have a right of appeal to the Medicines Commission before their application is determined. Additional scientific evidence can be generated and presented at such hearings. Both companies exercised that right and in January 1993, on the basis of the evidence then presented, the Medicines Commission advised that the Medicines Act criteria of safety, quality and efficacy were met.
This advice was reflected by the United Kingdom delegation during the subsequent final scientific evaluations of the two BST products by the EC Committee on Veterinary Medicinal Products. However, no product licences under the Medicines Act may be issued so long as the licensing moratorium agreed by the European Community's Council of Ministers remains in force.