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

The committee adopted the report by Karl-Erik OLSSON (ELDR, S) amending the Council's common position under the 2nd reading of the codecision procedure. It voted to delete the article in the common position allowing for veterinary medicinal products containing oestradiol 17 beta to be administered to animals for certain treatments (Article 5a). MEPs argued that the precautionary principle should be applied to safeguard consumers' health in view of the dangerousness of this substance, which may be carcinogenic. However, they said that exceptions could be made for the treatment of non-farm animals, i.e. animals not used for food production. The committee also deleted the new article stipulating that the Commission should report to Council and Parliament within two years on the availability of alternative veterinary medical products which did not contain oestradial 17 beta. It pointed out that such alternatives were already available. �