§ Mr. ViggersTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy on the use of avoparcin10W with particular reference to his assessment of the available data for the European Commission's Scientific Committee for Animal Nutrition. [31947]
§ Mrs. Browning[holding answer 7 June 1996]: Avoparcin is authorised for use throughout the Community as an additive in animal feeds under directive 70/524/EEC. No feed additive is permitted unless it satisfies the criteria set out in the directive, including a requirement that, at the level permitted in feeding stuffs, it does not adversely affect human or animal health or the environment.
In July 1995, as a result of concerns expressed by Denmark, the Council of Ministers decided not to support the continued authorisation of avoparcin for use in feed for dairy cows. The Scientific Committee for Animal Nutrition has recently considered data presented by the Danish authorities and their report is expected to be made available to member states shortly.
The Government will continue to argue that any future decisions on the authorisation of avoparcin must be taken on the basis of good scientific evidence.