EU scientific committee casts doubt on safety of injected hormone used to boost milk yield

An EU scientific committee has cast doubts about the safety of Monsanto's controversial genetically engineered hormone known as BST, which is injected into cows to boost milk yield. The committee on animal health and welfare findings increase the likelihood of renewed trade tensions between the US and Europe and more fallout over gene technology.

BST (bovine somatotrophin) is in routine use in the US while Monsanto - the US multinational which developed it - has repeatedly failed to gain access to EU markets with it.

Should the EU committee on veterinary measures related to public health endorse the findings within the next week, the likelihood of a trade war sparked by BST is high - especially if the Codex Alimentarius commission, an international body which approves product safety, endorses its safety, as is likely.

Some 100 million units of BST have been used in US herds since 1993, with 30 per cent of dairy cows now using the hormone.

The animal health and welfare committee found that BST, which is made from a natural growth hormone, should not be injected into cattle. Its report cites increased likelihood of mastitis, foot problems and injection site reactions, which would also lead to welfare problems besides human health risks. It echoes the decision by Canada to ban BST after its expert group identified gaps in data on human and animal safety relating to the hormone.

Green MEP Ms Patricia McKenna welcomed the committee's stance. She also cited an Observer report that the company had accessed confidential EU documents on BST. A watchdog body, Consumers' International, had claimed the EU's expert committee on food additives should void its approval of BST because its "objectivity and credibility" had been compromised as a result.

Genetic Concern spokesman Mr Quentin Gargan said: "BST increases incidence of mastitis, leads to higher somatic cell counts (known as pus) and elevated levels of insulin growth factor 1 in milk. There are concerns that this factor may be carcinogenic." Animal health problems inevitably translated into high antibiotic use, which could also have implications for humans, he said.

However, Mr Declan O'Brien, director of the Animal and Plant Health Association, which represents veterinary drug interests in Ireland, said the findings were further indication of EU decisions on products based on political rather than scientific considerations.

It was at variance with the key expert panel, the committee for veterinary medicinal products, he said. This independent group set up by the European Commission through the European Medicines Evaluation Agency had ruled BST was "perfectly safe". However, with an EU moratorium until the end of 1999, renewed political attempts were being made to block BST, he said, despite it naturally occurring in milk.

Monsanto said BST had been subject to one of the most intensive "post-approval monitoring programmes" ever conducted by the US Food and Drug Administration. This showed no ill-effects in cows treated with BST or problems arising in products using milk from cows treated with BST, its spokesman said. There was a risk of increased mastitis, requiring careful management, he said.

Similarly with BST, "the key is responsible use of the product".