Growth promoters: reassessing the risk

Abstract

Legislation to control veterinary medicinal products is undergoing continual development in the EEC and UK and therefore the risks are continually reassessed. In the present paper current and future legislation together with consumer concerns both real and imaginary are reviewed.Since the EEC ban on hormonal growth promoter implants in 1986 the remaining legal products are all feed additives. Registration of feed additives in the EEC is controlled under Directive 70/524 and its various amending directives. this directive is concerned with all products added to feed and mainly includes substances used to affect the quality of the feedstuff i.e., emulsifiers, stabilisers, antioxidants, colorants and binding agents and also vitamins and micronutrients. The majority of growth promoters exert their affects by antimicrobial activity and these and certain prophylactic medicinal products such as coccidiostats are also included. All products with a therapeutic action are controlled under the Veterinary Medicine Directives 81/851 and 81/852, quite separate legislation and under the responsibility of a different department within the EEC Coimdssion. However, there is provision under Directive 84/587 amending 70/524 to transfer the medicinal feed additives to 81/851 and 81/852.