§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the Government's position on the licensing of the use of bovine somatotropin in the EC.
§ Mrs. BrowningThe Government have made clear their view that any final decision on the licensing of bovine somatotropin should be based firmly on the206W statutory licensing criteria of safety, quality and efficacy. It should be for the marketplace to determine whether BST has a role to play. On the basis of the scientific evidence and advice currently available, the products concerned meet those criteria and pose no hazard to animal health or welfare of public safety. As my right hon. Friend reported to the House on 15 December 1994 therefore, Official Report, columns 793–94, at the December Council of Agriculture Ministers meeting, he voted against a presidency compromise to extend the moratorium on BST until 31 December 1999, as this was without scientific justification. The decision was, however, adopted by qualified majority.