OTTAWA – Pressure on the federal government to decide on the future of the dairy cow growth hormone bovine somatotropin rose dramatically last week with both sides lobbying fiercely on Parliament Hill.
“There is a lot of heat being put on this one. It’s a tough one,” said Liberal MP Bob Speller, chair of the Commons agriculture committee. “I don’t know how the government will decide.”
While the decision is delayed, pressure mounts.
A one-year voluntary agreement by Monsanto and Eli Lilly not to sell the growth hormone, even if it is approved for sale, expires July 1.
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The companies say they will not agree to a second moratorium.
Meanwhile, Health Canada continues its review of whether to approve the drug for sale. It will give no indication of precisely what issues it is studying, why it is taking so long or when the decision might be made.
In an unusual move last week, an angry Commons agriculture committee cited rarely-used powers to order Health Canada to produce by June 22 “a complete list of human and animal health concerns” the department is considering in its review of the safety of BST.
Since health department officials insist this information is confidential, it was unclear last week how departmental lawyers would respond.
A number of agriculture committee MPs appeared sympathetic to the view that introduction of the drug should be delayed for at least another year.
The Commons health committee last week voted unanimously for an extension of the moratorium.
In the Commons, health minister Diane Marleau insisted an imposed moratorium would be a political intervention in what should be a science-based review process.
Reform MPs agreed with her. Bloc QuŽbecois MPs fought for a new moratorium and the Liberals appear divided on the issue.
All the while, lobbying continues.
A group of dairy farmers, veterinarians and a Southern Ontario family physician came to Parliament Hill to plead for approval of BST.
Required to stay alive
“Farmers need this management tool,” Camrose, Alta., vet Jake Burlet told a news conference. “Dairy farmers in my area are going out of business. Give them the tools they need to survive.”
On the other side, the Council of Canadians lobbied furiously, planting questions with MPs and providing MPs and reporters with documents claiming proponents are using misinformation in their campaigns.
Council researcher Alex Boston said a government-led industry task force on BST was biased in favor of the drug. The country’s dairy processors also have been lobbying hard against BST approval, claiming it could drive customers away.
