COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
COM(93) 605 final 
Bruxelles, 30 novembre 1993 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL DECISION 
amending Decision 90/218/EEC concerning the placing 
on the market and administration of 
Bovine Somatrotrophin (B.S.T.) 
(presented by the Commission) 
fi Explanatorv Memorandum 
Council Decision 90/218/EEC<1) requires Member States to ensure until 31st 
December 1993, that the placing on the market of bovine somatotrophin (B.S.T.) 
and its administration on their territory to dairy cows by any means 
whatsoever will not be authorized. 
It was recognized that further time was needed to study the effects and 
consequences of the administration of this product. These studies have been 
completed and in accordance with Article 4 of the Decision a report on the 
^ situation for the Parliament and the Council has been agreed by the 
Commission (2). 
J The Commission's report concluded that the marketing of B.S.T. and its 
] administration to dairy cows in the Community be prohibited for the duration 
| of the application of the regime for milk quotas estabIished by Council 
[ regulation 3950/92/EEC^3^ establishing an additional levy in the milk and 
' milk products sector. In accordance with Article 4 of Council Decision 
90/218/EEC the Commission is required to submit appropriate proposals on the 
matter. The present proposal fulfills this obligation. 
The proposed measure comes under the Common Agricultural Policy. In order to 
obtain the measures objectives, it is necessary to adopt a Decision. 
The measures take the form of a Decision, its implementation will be the 
responsibility of the Member States. 
The Commission invites the Council to adopt a rapid Decision. 
(1) O.J. N* L116, 08.05.1990, Decision amended by Decision 92/98/EEC (O.J. 
N- L 39, 15.02.1992, p. 41. 
(2) COM (93) 331 Final of 16th September 1993. 
(3) O.J. N' L 405, 31.12.1992, p. 1. 
PROPOSAL 
COUNCIL DECISION 
of 
amending Decision 90/218/EEC concerning the placing 
on the market and administration of 
Bovine Somatrotrophin (B.S.T.) 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and 
in particular Article 43 thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Having regard to the opinion of the European Par Iiament^1), 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee*2) 
Whereas, by Decision 90/218/EEC^3) as amended, the Council called on Member 
States to prohibit, until 31st December 1993, the administration of bovine 
somatotrophin (B.S.T.) on their territory by any means whatsoever to dairy 
cows in view of the fact that the effects and consequences of the 
administration of this product were not sufficiently clear at the time; 
Whereas in the meantime in depth studies have been undertaken on the effects 
and consequences of the administration of bovine somatrophin to dairy cows, 
whereas the Committee on Veterinary Medicinal Products (C.V.M.P.), created by 
Directive 81/851/EEC arrived at the view that the B.S.T. products it studied 
satisfy the traditional criteria for authorisation of "quality", "safety" and 
"efficacity"; 
(1) O.J. N" C 
(2) O.J. N* C 
(3) O.J. N* L 116, 08.05.1990, Decision amended by Decision 92/98/EEC 
(O.J. N- L 39. 15.02.1992, p. 41). 
2 
Whereas, however, the same Committee indicated that its favorable approach 
depends on several requirements, e.g. the respect of high standards of animal 
husbandry, the choice of animals for treatment and their subsequent care, a 
specific nutritional regime for these animals, a veterinary prescription in 
each case and a good hygiene at the injection site; whereas the same Committee 
stressed the need of a permanent monitoring of somatic cell counts of milk 
obtained from B.S.T. treated animals for health reasons; 
Whereas, the group of Advisers to the Commission on ethics recommended 
safeguard similar to those requested by the C.V.M.P.; 
Whereas the effect of the introduction of B.S.T. would conflict with the 
objectives of the Common Agricultural Policy, in particular the milk quota 
scheme introduced since 1984-, 
Whereas negative consumer reactions and related effects on consumption, likely 
major changes in production practices, and potentially adverse effects on 
Community exports could continue to exacerbate market and structural 
imbalances in both the milk and beef sectors; 
Whereas in order to take these policies into account the marketing of B.S.T. 
and its administration to dairy cows in the Community should at least be 
prohibited for the duration of the application of the milk quotas regime in 
the Community; 
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION : 
3 -
Article 1 
Decision 90/218/EEC is hereby amended as follows .-
1. Article 1 shall be replace by the following : 
'Article 1 
Member States shall ensure that, until the end of the regime established by 
Council Regulation (CEE) No 3950/92(3) establishing an additional levy in 
the milk and milk products sector, the placing on the market of bovine 
somatotroph in and its administration on their territory to dairy cows by 
any means whatsoever will not be authorized.' 
2. Article 4 shall be replaced by the following : 
'Art icle 4 
In case of review of the regime referred to in Article 1 the Commission 
shall present to the European Par I iament and to the Council a report on the 
situation together with appropriate proposals.' 
Article 2 
This Decision is addressed to the Member States 
Done at Brussels, For the Council, 
The President 
(3) O.J. N* L 405, 31.12.1992, p. 1 
-H' 
ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(93) 605 final 
DOCUMENTS 
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ISBN 92-77-61779-9 
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