§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations she has received regarding the hormone bovine somatotropin; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. SoamesWe continue to receive a number of representations from both individuals and organisations about the possible availability of bovine somatotropin (BST).
No licences for BST products may be issued in member states under the moratorium agreed by the Council of Agriculture Ministers in 1990. This was extended to 31 December 1993 to allow the EC Commission time to prepare and present its report on the implications of licensing BST by the end of June 1993. The report is now expected to be available later this month. We will be considering the contents and recommendations of the report very carefully, taking into account the many divergent views we have received on the subject, in coming to a view on the future of the moratorium.