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Joint Letter from the Presidents of BVPA and Pig Veterinary Society, sent to Commissioner Fischler, UK Ministers and MP's in early December 1998

We have learned with interest, and some considerable concern, of the UK government's 
support at a technical committee for an EU commission proposal to suspend the 
licenses of 4 antimicrobial products approved for digestive enhancement in poultry 
and/or pigs throughout the EU.  We understand that this proposal is based on 
"the precautionary principle" - i.e. that  a hazard has been identified and that there
is insufficient scientific information to quantify the risk. This is in spite of a recent report
form the EU's own Standing Committee on Animal Nutrition reviewing all recent data
on one of these products and concluding that there is no scientific basis for such a
suspension. In our judgement, this principle could equally be invoked to suspend the
license of almost any antimicrobial used in animals, with obvious severe consequences
for animal health and welfare, as well as the agricultural economy.  
However since human health is, legitimately, our over-riding concern we will not go into
that here.  There are, however, two key questions which must be satisfactorily
answered before this measure is implemented :

1) How is it proposed to eliminate the equivalent threat arising from meat imported 
from third countries originating from animals treated with these products?  Since the
proposed hazard is microbial resistance, not residues, this could only be achieved
by either banning such imports or ensuring that imported materials are sterile or,
at least, do not carry resistant organims.

2) Have the human health risks associated with the suspension of the licenses of
these (and, eventually, similar products) been fully evaluated and clearly shown to be
less than those asssociated with their continued use? If not the application 
of the precautionary principle is illogical, even if it is  politically expedient.

It seems clear that vested interests in certain Scandinavian countries are trying to rush
through this measure before it can be satisfactorily examined.  There is a very real risk
that the poultry and pig industries in many European countries will be sacrificed for
no net human health gain - all in the name of MC - "Microbiological Correctness".


Barry Thorp                        Gareth Williams
President BVPA                 President Pig Veterinary Society