Once again, the rBGH issue has moved into the limelight. Our 10 years of expertise, supported by our extensive rBGH files, are attracting the attention of many who are concerned about this synthetic, non-therapeutic drug.

The NFU is working with Senators in preparing for hearings which began on June 4 and will continue into the fall. We participated in developing a motion calling for the federal government to defer licensing rBGH for one year, and asking that sufficient research be conducted to assure Canadians that the hormone does not place their health at risk. The motion, introduced by Senator Eugene Whelan, was passed on June 5.

The Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Forestry heard testimony from Health Canada and Monsanto. Thanks to advance briefing, the Senators were reasonably effective in bringing out key issues during their cross-examination. The NFU also organized Ottawa meetings for key British and U.S. rBGH activists. Along with the NFU, these experts met NGOs, staff of opposition parties, government and Senate members, and science and legal professionals. The meetings were intended to help rBGH activists working internationally on trade and food standards issues, particularly the Codex Alimentarius process, forge direct links with one another.

New science emerges

The NFU has documents going back to 1987 in which Health Canada claimed that there is no risk to human health arising from the use of rBGH to boost milk production, despite some studies that claim otherwise. During the last six months, several new findings about rBGH have been reported and others have confirmed that there are health risks associated with using the hormone. Recent scientific research links rBGH to higher incidence of prostate and breast cancer. Furthermore, scientists have confirmed the previous suspicion that 'Insulin-like' Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1), a protein associated with rBGH, does pass through the gut undigested in the presence of casein, another component of milk. In studies on adult rats, 67% of this biologically active (ie. undigested) IGF-1 can be absorbed through the intestinal tract. Other studies report that high levels of IGF-1 promote and accelerate the growth of cancer.

Regulatory system in shambles

For more than a year, there have been persistent charges from scientists with Health Canada's Bureau of Veterinary Drugs that they are being pressured to approve rBGH and other drugs. Their union has filed numerous grievances that will be heard before the Federal Public Service Staff Relations Board in the fall.

During all of this activity, an internal Health Canada report, called the "GAP" report, was completed in mid-April. The report is authored by four Health Canada scientists and is said to be extremely critical of the department's review of rBGH. Allegedly, department managers are trying to get the authors to edit and cleanse the document.

Several requests under the Access to Information Act have been filed by Senators and lawyers. The NFU has written to Health Minister Allan Rock urging him to release the complete report to help restore pubic confidence in our regulatory system.

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