XN000022-1983-06-21 — Page 2

TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 1983

FIRST STAGE OF CHICKEN HORMONE BAN

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THE PHARMACY AND POISONS BOARD HAS AGREED TO THE BANNING OF SYNTHETIC HORMONES WHICH HAVE BEEN USED AS GROWTH STIMULANTS IN THE LOCAL POULTRY INDUSTRY.

THE BOARD DECIDED THAT THE PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS FOR VETERINARY USE WHICH CONTAIN STILBENE DERIVATIVES SHOULD BE DEREGISTERED IMMEDIATELY.

THIS MEANS THAT FROM JULY 19, ALLOWING FOR THE STATUTORY PERIOD OF 28 DAYS FOR AGGRIEVED PARTIES TO APPEAL AGAINST THE BOARD'S DECISION, THE SALE AND IMPORTATION OF THESE PRODUCTS WILL BE ILLEGAL.

HOLDERS OF THE REGISTERED PRODUCTS INVOLVED ARE BEING INFORMED BY LETTER OF THE BOARD'S DECISION.

STILBENE DERIVATIVES ARE SYNTHETIC SUBSTANCES WHICH HAVE BEEN SHOWN TO BE LINKED WITH CANCER IN STUDIES OVERSEAS.

THE HORMONES COVERED BY THE WITHDRAWAL OF REGISTRATION INCLUDE HEXOESTROL, WHICH HAS BEEN WIDELY USED IN THE LOCAL POULTRY INDUSTRY- ŠTILBOESTROL, ANOTHER GROWTH STIMULANT WHICH WAS USED PREVIOUSLY BY POULTRY BREEDERS IN HONG KONG ; AND TRIPHENYL ETHYLENE BROMIDE, WHICH IS REGISTERED UNDER THE PHARMACY AND POISONS REGULATIONS BUT HAS NOT BEEN USED BY POULTRY BREEDERS.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE REASON FOR EXTENDING THE BAN TO INCLUDE ALL STILBENE PRODUCTS FOR VETERINARY USE WAS TO PREVENT IMPORTERS AND BREEDERS FROM TURNING TO OTHER SYNTHETIC HORMONES ONCE HEXOESTROL WAS PROHIBITED.

THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES ANNOUNCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON JUNE 8 THAT THE APPLICATION FOR DEREGISTRATION OF HEXOESTROL WOULD BE MADE TO THE BOARD.

DEREGISTRATION UNDER THE PHARMACY AND POISONS REGULATIONS IS ONE OF TWO MEASURES BEING INTRODUCED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH BY PREVENTING THE CONSUMPTION OF POULTRY MEAT CONTAINING HEXOESTROL OR OTHER SUCH HORMONES.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID ACTION WAS ALSO BEING TAKEN TO AMEND THE SCHEDULE TO THE HARMFUL SUBSTANCES IN FOOD REGULATIONS, MADE UNDER THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND URBAN SERVICES ORDINANCE, TO PROHIBIT THE IMPORT, DISTRIBUTION AND SALE FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION OF MEAT CONTAINING A DETECTABLE AMOUNT OF SYNTHETIC HORMONE OF THE STILBENE FAMILY.

/HE PUIN DED