§ Mr. MorleyTo asks the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what trials of bovine somatotropin are(a) being conducted in the United Kingdom and (b) planned; how many animals are involved; how is the BST being administered; in what quantities is it being administered; what effects are being measured; and if he will make a statement. [16344]
§ Mrs. Browning[holding answer 22 February 1996]: Although the European Commission has accepted that there is no risk to humans from the consumption of milk from cows treated with bovine somatotropin, a moratorium on its marketing and use was introduced throughout the EC in 1990, and after twice being extended is now scheduled to last until 31 December 1999. The terms of the current extension to the moratorium were agreed by the Council Agriculture Ministers at its meeting in December 1994, and allow limited practical tests in order to obtain any other scientific data that might be taken into account by the Council when taking a final decision on the authorisation of BST. No such trials of BST are currently taking place in the UK or any other member state.
Any plans for other scientific research outside the terms of the moratorium are a matter for the pharmaceutical companies concerned. Such research could be conducted only under the terms of an animal test certificate issued by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, or a Home Office licence.