PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Livestock: Hormone Treatments (19 April 2017)

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what research her Department has conducted into the effect of the use of pregnant mare serum gonadotropin on the (a) health and (b) welfare of horses, pigs, cows and sheep.

Asked by:
Kerry McCarthy (Labour)

As part of the veterinary medicines approval process, products containing pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) have been assessed by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) against European standards for quality, safety and efficacy to determine the benefits of the product to the animals being treated.

This assessment also takes account of any potential risks to the environment, to the animals being treated, to people who administer the medicine and to those who may consume produce from treated animals. A product is only granted an authorisation if the benefits of the product outweigh its risks.

The government has not commissioned or funded any research into the effect of the use of PMSG on either the health or welfare of horses, pigs, cows or sheep.

In late January this year, in light of the media reports concerning the welfare of animals used during the production of PMSG, the VMD contacted all three companies holding UK Marketing Authorisations for these products. They all provided written assurances that they have systems in place to safeguard animal welfare in their supply chains.

Answered by:
George Eustice (Conservative)
26 April 2017