§ Mr. David HeathTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will support the European Commission's proposal to ban bovine somatropin from January 2000. [101748]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 9 December 1999]: We have received clear advice from the Veterinary Products Committee (VPC) that the treatment of dairy cows with recombinant bovine somatropin (rBST) is associated with severe welfare problems. We announced on 11 October that we had accepted the VPC's advice to support a continuation of the moratorium or equivalent measures which prohibit the use of rBST. Accordingly, we support the ban proposed by the European Commission. A copy of the VPC's report is in the Library of the House.