Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Health whether dairy produce from cows fed with Bovaer is safe for human consumption.
Minister of Health: Milk from cows given Bovaer, a feed additive used to reduce methane emissions, is safe to drink. The additive is metabolised by the cows so does not pass into the milk.
All feed additives that are authorised for use within the EU, including Northern Ireland, are subject to a scientific assessment by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) on the safety and efficacy of that additive specific to the proposed terms of use. In its report, EFSA concluded that use of the Bovaer additive in the feed of dairy cows poses no concern for the safety of consumers of dairy products.
Bovaer has also undergone rigorous safety assessments as part of the Food Standard Agency’s market authorisation process and is approved for use in Great Britain. The Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland safety assessment concluded there are no safety concerns when Bovaer is used at the approved dose.
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