Ractopamine drug is enabled in pig production

The rule change was a controversial measure of Dominguez in his last days as Minister.

Hours before leaving office, former Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Julian Dominguez ended the status that placed Argentina as a country free of growth promoters in meat production. At the request of swine producers, enabled a drug (ractopamine) that would increase to 5% the production of pork.

Agriculture amended the resolution 148 of April 5, 2006. That rule had ordered the ban "throughout the national territory of veterinary products listed as growth promoters". That is, anabolic or other substance. In the U.S. these products are often used. But the European Union resists them.

According to John Uceli, from the Association of Pork Producers, the Ractopamine (the only permitted from sponsor this resolution) is not traditional but a hormone medicine that will allow mixed with the feed, up to 5% increase in meat production in pigs. Used in the USA, Brazil and many producing countries, but is banned in China and Europe.

"The reasons are commercial", he said Uceli, stressing that the product does not pose a risk to consumers of the meat and promised a rigorous traceability program to prevent, among other things, that ractopamine is used to fatten other animal species.

Source: www.ieco.clarin.com