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Brussels, 27 October 1999
EURO COOP welcomes the Commission's proposal to ban the use of BST in Milk Production
EURO COOP, the European Community of Consumer Co-operatives welcomes the European Commission's proposal to ban the marketing and use of recombinant bovine somatotrophin (BST) in milk production as from 1 January 2000, and calls on the Council and the European Parliament to approve such proposal.
Since its creation in 1957, one of Euro Coop's major objectives is to promote, defend and represent consumer interests at European level. Euro Coop currently represents more than 3200 local or regional co-operatives, membership of which amounts to over 19 million consumers in the European Union and 2 million in the associated countries of central and Eastern Europe. A natural element for consumer co-operatives activity is concern for people, and it is their task to act for the good of consumers by providing them with healthy and safe food, along with clear and complete information.
It is on the basis of this long-standing experience that Euro Coop has prepared the current position, which calls on the European Union to maintain its ban on the marketing and use of bovine somatotrophin in milk production after the end of this year.
BST is a protein or peptide hormone produced by genetic engineering, which when injected into dairy cows, can increase milk production. A Council Decision 94/936/EC of 20 December 1994, amending Decision 90/218/EEC prohibited the marketing and use of BST in the EU until 31 December 1999.
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Considering the official conclusions of the European Union Scientific Committees on animal health and animal welfare , and on veterinary measures relating to public health , Euro Coop reaffirms its strong opposition to the use of BST in milk production for reasons of animal welfare and consumer health.
As regards animal welfare, Euro Coop is concerned that BST use causes substantially poorer welfare because of increased foot problems, mastitis, reproductive disorders and other production related diseases.
As regards human health, Euro Coop is concerned that the use of BST could increase the relative risk of breast and prostate cancer, and the risk of allergic reactions. Furthermore, in the wake of concerns about the growth of antibiotic resistance, Euro Coop fears that the BST related mastitis would increase the use of antimicrobial substances, which might result in residue formation in milk and in the selection of resistant bacteria.
In view of the above-mentioned considerations, Euro Coop underlines that safety concerns must be fully resolved and that the precautionary principle must prevail avoiding the use of BST in milk production.
Furthermore, Euro Coop considers that safety is not the only consideration. Indeed, there is no evidence that the use of milk from animals treated with such hormone will benefit consumers through improved milk quality, or through lower prices. In addition, the fact that the European Union already has sufficient production of milk, there is no need for BST.
In conclusion, Euro Coop welcomes the Codex Alimentarius Commission's decision of 29 June 1999 to postpone the setting of a maximum residue limit for BST, and calls on the European Union to strongly argue for the highest level of consumer health and animal welfare when discussing the issue at international level.
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