To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the use of clenbuterol; and if he will make it his policy to press for a Community ban on this product.

Clenbuterol is the active ingredient within three veterinary products licensed in the United Kingdom for use on prescription to treat respiratory and calving disorders in cattle and horses. I have no plans to press for a Community ban as this would unreasonably put a stop to such legitimate use.I am aware of reports from other member states of the illegal use of this substance as a repartitioning agent but we have no evidence of unauthorised use of clenbuterol in Great Britain at present. Nevertheless tighter controls on such substances will be introduced within the next few weeks. Interested parties have already been consulted about these measures, which amongst other things will enable animals and carcases found to contain residues of illegally administered beta agonists, including clenbuterol, to be condemned as unfit for human consumption.