Stockfarming: prohibition of certain substances with hormonal or thyrostatic action, of beta-agonists

PURPOSE : to amend Council directive 96/22/EC regarding the use in stockfarming of certain hormonal substances. CONTENT : in the light of an opinion of the Scientific Committee on Veterninary measures relating to Public Health (SCVPH), the Commission proposes definitively to ban the use of oestradiol 17 beta and its ester-like derivatives in farm animals and to only allow its adminisatration to non-farm animals for therapeutic purposes. The administration of five other hormonal substances for animal growth promotion purposes is prohibited by the above directive. These are testosterone, progesterone, trenbolone acetate, zeranol and melengestrol acetate. In the case of these five, the need for further information ahs been identified. Therefore, the Commission proposes to continue provisionally to apply the prohibition on these five hormones until more complete scientific information is made available. The use of some of these substances may, however, continue to be authorised for therapeutical purposes and zootechnical treatment under the conditions of Council directive 96/22/EC. In comparison to the present situation, this proposal has an impact on imports from third countries who legally use oestradiol 17 beta and its ester-like derivatives for therapeutical purposes or zootechnical treatment in farm animals. The Commission considers the presentation of this proposal represents another step towards the implementation of the European Community's international obligations, specifically in the World Trade Organisation.�