§ Dr. CableTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he intends to take following the new evidence linking the development of antibiotic-resistant superbugs to the use of antibiotics as animal growth promoters. [37270]
§ Mr. RookerNo additive is permitted for use in animal feedingstuffs unless it has satisfied criteria for safety and efficacy set out in Council Directive 70/524/EEC. Denmark, Finland and Sweden have provided information in support of unilateral bans on certain antibiotic feed additives. The European Commission is consulting its80W independent Scientific Committee on Animal Nutrition (SCAN) and SCAN's reports will be considered in the Standing Committee for Animal Feedingstuffs.
In the UK, the independent scientific Veterinary Products Committee (VPC) keeps the question of antibiotic resistance under review and its advice will inform the Government's position in EC discussions in Standing Committee on SCAN's reports. We shall support the eventual outcome of those discussions, provided they are based on sound science.