MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 21, 2002

Health Canada back to its old tricks: scientists under pressure to approve unsafe drugs for livestock

OTTAWA, ONTARIO - Health Canada scientists are subjected to various degrees of pressure and coercion to approve new drugs from their administration, according to the results of an investigation presented on the CBC Canada Country show.

The story is reminiscent of the fight against recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH), led by NGOs, including the Council of Canadians to prevent the approval of this proven carcinogen that helps increase milk production. Health Canada wanted to approve rBGH despite the opposition of its scientists. The hormone was banned in the late 90's. This time, two drugs are at the center of this controversy.

Baytril is an antibiotic for chicken and cows that Health Canada scientists believe is a threat as it may cause antibiotic resistant bacteria in food animals, which could be passed to humans. Tylosin is a growth-hormone banned in Europe after studies demonstrated a link to cancer. The World Health Organisation also asked for its ban throughout its member countries.

"This is called risk management," said Dr. Shiv Chopra on Country Canada. "In other words, to make a profit, let us take risks and we will wait 20 or 30 years. If cancers occur, if reproductive disorders occur, if too many people die of antimicrobial resistance, then we will think about it and manage it."

"By rejecting the sound advice of its scientists or by replacing them with more compliant scientists who will recommend approval of a drug without any data, Health Canada administrators are playing dice with the health of Canadians, said Nadège Adam, biotechnology campaigner for the Council of Canadians.

"We were hoping these shenanigans were a thing of the past after the bovine growth hormone episode showed Health Canada the errors of its ways. Evidently, they haven't learned a thing. How can we trust them when times and times again, they are showing a contempt for the safety of Canadians they are mandated to protect."

The Council of Canadians is demanding an independent investigation in this matter that will make the drug-approval process transparent and free from political and industry interference.

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