Day 114 - 04 Apr 95 - Page 41
1 as an expert, that there is a significant risk at least of
2 human illness as a result of eating food which contains
3 whatever you are discussing at the moment.
4 A. There is just the risk, which has not been confirmed,
5 which is a warning and if you look in, say, Martindale's
6 Pharmacopeia, you will see these corollories mentioned in
7 terms of these sulphur drugs.
8
9 MR. MORRIS: So, in effect, what you are saying is that the
10 humans are consuming these drugs through the treatment they
11 have had on the animals?
12 A. Yes.
13
14 Q. Some people are vulnerable, it is a fact ---
15 A. Yes.
16
17 Q. -- are vulnerable to those drugs.
18
19 MR. RAMPTON: Mr. Morris ought to complete the circle, my Lord,
20 and ask the witness whether it is his opinion and, if so,
21 on what basis, that is, the consumption of whatever meat
22 may contain these drugs that constitutes -----
23
24 MR. JUSTICE BELL: He does not have to ask that, but if you do
25 not ask that I am just completely left in the air, as far
26 as this is concerned.
27
28 MR. MORRIS: I think, to be honest, it is a matter of comment,
29 with respect, because if people are consuming drugs that
30 can be dangerous, unknown to them, because they are
31 consuming meat products, then they are being subject to a
32 risk they are not entitled to be subject to.
33
34 MR. JUSTICE BELL: You take that stand if you wish. You have
35 the opportunity to ask more questions if you want to.
36
37 MR. MORRIS (To the witness): So, is it your opinion, I think
38 Mr. Rampton was asking me to ask you, that significant
39 quantities of pork consumed will contain residues of these
40 sulphadimidine -----
41 A. The figure at the moment, let us say, it is 2.5 per
42 cent of pigs' kidneys, contain residues above the MRLs.
43 Now, first of all, they may be fairly well over the MRLs.
44 The statistics tell us only that they exceed the MRLs. The
45 MRLs are set because prudent authorities think that they
46 should be kept below those in view of the public safety.
47 The public safety is measured in terms of the risks that
48 I have told you about which have been established by
49 medical practice.
50
51 MS. STEEL: Just on the setting of MRLs, has there been any
52 argument or controversy about the level that has been set
53 for sulphadimidine or changing it or anything like that?
54 A. There have and the Veterinary Products Committee,
55 amongst others, they spend some time considering these
56 matters as well as international organisations like JECFA.
57 JECFA, I hope you are not going to ask me -----
58
59 MR. MORRIS: No, we have had that.
60 A. I am glad of that. Such WHO organisations also set
