WRITTEN QUESTION E-1998/97 by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission (9 June 1997)

Subject: Fattening hormones

1. What fattening hormones are permitted in the USA for what animals (cows, oxen, bullocks, young cattle, female and male calves)?

2. How, in what form, how often, in what doses and at what age are these individual hormones administered to these animals?

3. How can farmers obtain these hormones?

4. Who supplies them?

5. What are the duties of veterinary surgeons in connection with hormone fattening?

6. Who monitors the correct use of the fattening hormones permitted in the USA?

7. How is their incorrect use prevented?

8. What measures has the USA taken to prevent the use of illegal fattening hormones?

9. What morphological and physiological effects does treatment with the respective fattening hormones have on the organism of the above-mentioned animals (please give details)? Special reference should be made to the endocrine glands.

10. By means of what scientific documentation can the USA prove that treatment with the individual fattening hormones does not adversely affect any of the numerous constituents of meat?

Answer given by Ms Bonino on behalf of the Commission (23 July 1997)

1. The USA has authorised 6 fattening hormones for use in bovines, namely zeranol, trenbolone, oestradiol, progesterone, testosterone and melengestrol acetate. Zeranol is also authorised for sheep.

2. Melengestrol acetate is administered in feed, and is intended for heifers between 12 and 24 months. The other hormones are almost always administered in combination, to bovines and sheep, as implants under the skin of the ear.

3. and 4. These hormones are freely available on the market, without veterinary prescription. Breeders may buy them directly or by mail order from sales representatives' catalogues (at farm products shops, vet pharmacies, etc.)

5. There are no specific duties incumbent on private veterinary practitioners in connection with hormone fattening. It is the breeder who mixes the product in the animal's feed (where melengestrol acetate is not pre-prepared by industrial feed producers), and who implants the fattening hormones in the ear. Breeders are responsible for following the instructions for use.

6. To the knowledge of the Commission, neither the official vets of the Department of Agriculture nor the agents of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) carry out any particular monitoring of the use of fattening hormones in animals whose meat is intended for the American market.

7. The 'US national residue program' monitors residues in meat produced for the American market and export to other non-Community countries. For several years now, it has only provided for a very small number of tests, to check on the correct use of authorised hormones.

However, the Americans have set up a system whereby breeders are responsible for ensuring that meat exported to the Community comes from animals that have never been treated with fattening hormones.

8. The Commission has been informed that the United States has taken legal measures to prohibit the use of non-authorised hormones. Fraud is subject to administrative and penal sanctions.

9. The effectiveness of anabolics on animal morphology depends on numerous factors such as sex, age of animal, breed, dose, combination with other substances, and nutrition. As a rule they have a favourable impact on growth and calcification of the bones, leading to weight gain in a shorter period than non-treated animals.

The physiological effects depend on the type of substance administered (oestrogenic, androgenic or gestagenic) and the sex of the animal. It is not possible to describe in a few words all the different and complex effects on animal physiology, with special reference to the endocrine glands. If the Honourable Member wishes, the Commission can provide him with scientific documentation on the subject.

10. American legislation on the market authorisation of fattening hormones has been drawn up by the FDA. The FDA based its judgment on the scientific data provided at the time, confidentially, by the industry. Most of these data are fairly old, some more than fifteen years old.