Canada’s dairy farmer lobby is nervously urging the federal government to delay approval of a dairy growth hormone until there is no controversy about its safety or the system used to approve it.
Neil Van Ryssel, from Oakbank, Man., a Dairy Farmers of Canada board member, said DFC is uneasy about the prospect of bovine somatotropin being licensed this autumn while consumer questions persist about its safety.
He said DFC proposals to the government would delay a final decision for a year or two.
“We don’t want it hitting the market when consumers may be of the opinion that the licensing process is not squeaky clean,” said Van Ryssel.
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There is widespread expectation that Health Canada will announce this autumn that BST drugs have been approved for sale in Canada. For years, it has been examining the safety and effectiveness of the drug, which has been approved for use in the United States.
Dairy processors have been fighting the proposal, arguing that consumer concerns could create a marketplace backlash which would affect sales and taint the image of the dairy industry.
Dairy farmers have been more ambivalent.
However, at their annual meeting in mid-July, the farmer lobby decided the time is not right for BST approval. In recent months, some federal government scientists have questioned how thorough and unbiased Health Canada’s review of new drug applications has been
DFC delegates asked that approval be delayed until:
- The federal auditor general has examined the approval process within Health Canada “to ensure that any claims questioning its integrity are fully dispelled.”
- International health organizations, including the United Nations Codex Alimentarius Commission, certify the safety of BST.
- Health Canada agrees to “fully inform” the public about how the product was approved and why.
Van Ryssel said the dairy industry wants to be sure the government takes responsibility for explaining and defending approval of the drug.
After the DFC delegate vote, president Barron Blois issued a statement asserting that dairy farmers do not want to see the good reputation of milk tarnished “through negative perceptions about Health Canada’s approval process.”
The dairy farmer lobby also is backing away from its traditional stand that labels not be used to identify whether or not a consumer product was produced using BST.
Van Ryssel said DFC increasingly is thinking that if consumers demand label information, it may be the best thing.
However, he said any label must include the Health Canada disclaimer that use of BST to induce increased milk production in cows does not change the milk produced.
