SASKATOON, Sask-A report written by scientists at Health Canada condemns the Department's review process for the synthetic drug rBGH. "The National Farmers Union strongly urges Health Canada to make its internal report on rBGH public. Further, the four scientists who authored the report must be called to testify at the upcoming Senate Agriculture Committee hearings on rBGH, scheduled to begin June 4," said NFU President Nettie Wiebe today.

rBGH (recombinant bovine growth hormone) is a genetically-engineered hormone injected into dairy cows to increase milk production. rBGH is not currently licensed in Canada. Recent scientific studies identify a link between rBGH and prostate and breast cancers.

A May 29 Toronto Star article stated that the Health Canada report identifies several shortcomings in the science and data used by Health Canada drug reviewers, including the failure to request long-term toxicology tests.

The NFU has documents containing several statements made by officials from Health Canada's Bureau of Veterinary Drugs, going back as far as 1987, stating that there are no human health problems associated with the use of rBGH. "It appears that Health Canada officials are reluctant to contradict their previous statements despite recent reports that raise very serious doubts about the safety of rBGH," said NFU Region 3 (Ontario) Coordinator and dairy farmer Peter Dowling.

"Canadians' trust in Health Canada has been badly shaken in recent years. Suppressing, 'cleansing', or covering up its own reports will only further damage the integrity of Health Canada in the eyes of Canadians. These most recent allegations against the Department underline the need for an honest, public process in the review of rBGH if Canadians are to renew their confidence in Canada's health protection system," concluded the NFU officials.

For More Information:

• Peter Dowling, NFU Region 3 (Ontario) Coordinator (613) 546-0869
  
• Richard Lloyd, NFU Ontario Office (613) 649-2733