§ Mr. ThompsonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent discussions have taken place between the Government and SEAC in relation to the use of pigmeat and bonemeal in the feed of other farm animals. [99260]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 25 November 1999]: At its meeting on 3 June 1999, SEAC considered a paper prepared by the Meat and Livestock Commission on this subject but concluded that this would not be the right time to relax the ban on feeding pig MBM to other farm animals. My right hon. Friend the Minister asked SEAC to look again at this matter at its meeting on 29 November.
§ Mr. BluntTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the result of the Veterinary Products Committee's meeting of 18 November in respect of recommended policy towards the suspension of the authorisation of Zinc Bacitracin for use in animal feed. [98550]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 23 November 1999]: Alpharma SA submitted papers which included new evidence and an assessment of the public health implications of the EU suspension of the authorisation of zinc bacitracin as an antimicrobial growth promoter. The Veterinary Products Committee agreed to consider these papers at its December meeting and, if appropriate, to offer advice to Ministers which would assist in future discussions on whether or not the EU suspension should be withdrawn or made permanent.
§ Mr. BluntTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the advantages and disadvantages of the suspension of the use of zinc bacitracin in animal feed, including its effect on the use of therapeutic antibiotics used in human medicine in animals; and if he will make a statement. [98444]
178W
§ Ms QuinCouncil Regulation (EC) No 2821/98 prohibited the use of bacitracin zinc and three other antibiotic growth promoters. The reasons underlying the Regulation were set out in full in the recitals and included an explanation that bacitracin zinc is used in human medicine and that it could be used for the treatment of vancomycin resistant enterococci in humans. The prohibition has been introduced as a protective measure taken as a precaution.
The Government's support of the ban was guided by advice from the independent Veterinary Products Committee (VPC) and the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF). Reports from both Committees have been published. The advantage of the ban on bacitracin zinc is that it helps to minimise the risk of the development of resistant strains of bacteria, with the disadvantage that it may add to the costs of poultry production. Three other antibiotic growth promoters are authorised for use in poultry in the EU. Other antibiotics may be used therapeutically under veterinary supervision and their use will depend on the disease condition of a particular flock. There are no figures available on the quantities of therapeutic antibiotics used in farming since the introduction of the ban.
§ Mr. BluntTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his assessment of the suspension of the use of zinc bacitracin in animal feed on the use of therapeutic antibiotics of importance in human medicine in animals. [98447]
§ Ms QuinThe suspension of the use of bacitracin as a growth promoter is unlikely to have had a significant effect on the use of antimicrobials of importance in human medicine as other antimicrobial growth promoters are available for use in poultry production.
§ Mr. BluntTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice the Government have received from the British Veterinary Poultry Association on consequences for public health of the suspension of the use of zinc bacitracin in animal feed. [98446]
§ Ms QuinThe Veterinary Medicines Directorate has received a number of letters from the Chairman of the Medicines Working Group of the British Veterinary Poultry Association (BVPA) about the ban on four antibiotic growth promoters. The BVPA's Working Group supported moves to reduce reliance on these products, but sought time before the ban took effect to allow access to appropriate, properly evaluated alternative products. The Government successfully argued for a six-month delay in the imposition of a ban. Three substances—flavophospholipol, avilomycin, and salinomycin—are now authorised in the EU for use as growth promoters in poultry.
§ Mr. BluntTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the effect of the suspension of the use of zinc bacitracin on the use of amoxycillin and penicillin in poultry. [98443]
§ Ms QuinBacitracin zinc was permitted for use throughout the European Union as a growth promoter in poultry. Its use, and that of three other antibiotic growth promoters, was prohibited from 1 July this year by Council Regulation (EC) No. 2821/98. The Government supported the ban on the basis of advice from their independent scientific advisory committees. Producers 179W were allowed six months between the Council Regulation and the implementation of the ban to adapt their production systems. Four other antimicrobial growth promoters are still authorised for use in the EU.
Amoxycillin and penicillin are not permitted for use as growth promoters but may be used, under veterinary supervision, for the treatment of poultry disease. There are no figures available to quantify whether there has been a change in the use of these therapeutic antimicrobials since the ban.