To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many animal test certificates are still in operation under the Medicines Act for BST, how many (a) farms and (b) cows the certificates cover; for how long the certificates are valid; and if he will make a statement.

There are currently three animal test certificates. Each one is valid for two years and is renewable. They allow a maximum of 1,287 cows to be treated on 23 sites, although in practice many fewer cows are receiving BST at any one time.