Day 095 - 02 Mar 95 - Page 03
1 paragraph and the second sentence.
2 A. Oh, yes, I have found it, thank you.
3
4 MS. STEEL: It goes on to say lower down: "The growth promoting
5 antibiotics, Virginia Mycin and AvoParcin, to which the
6 Defendants refer can be given to cattle in the USA". So
7 that is correct, is it not?
8 A. Yes.
9
10 Q. So you would expect those things to be used? You would not
11 be surprised if they were being used?
12 A. I would not be surprised if they are being used, no.
13
14 Q. In this statement you say that growth promoters and/or
15 antibiotics used have to be scientifically proven not to
16 have any harmful effect on humans. How can they prove,
17 scientifically prove, that they are not harmful to humans?
18 A. The FDA, in conjunction with a lot of health agencies
19 in the United States, do an extensive research of any
20 product, any chemical, that is being used or can be used in
21 the United States. It is a long process that, on the
22 average, takes at least five years for the approval
23 process. It is studied extensively to much higher levels
24 at which the product is intended to be used. If anything
25 is going to be used on the test, it has to prove that it
26 will not cause a harmful effect, even if it is ingested by
27 humans at a rate that is many, many, many times the
28 intended purpose of its use. It could be millions of
29 times. I have seen research like that.
30
31 Q. So they do do research on humans, do they?
32 A. I do not know. That is FD's regulation. I do not
33 know. I would assume that part of it, yes. Most of it,
34 the initial basis is done on rats, rabbits; the extent in
35 which it goes through a phase depending on the type of
36 chemical that is to be used. It could even include
37 monkeys. It could include humans too. A lot of the
38 research being done on drugs for AIDS today is currently
39 being done on humans.
40
41 Q. So the tests use large doses for shorter periods of time
42 than -----
43 A. It goes progressively. It is not just a big shot today
44 or a big dose today and "We will see what happens". It
45 starts with a little dose, and that is how, it takes a long
46 time, because they start looking at any possible side
47 effects and they keep increasing the dose until there is a
48 level which there is no doubt that it will cause any
49 harmful effect.
50
51 Q. They cannot scientifically prove that they have not any
52 harmful effects on humans, can they?
53 A. You are totally wrong. You are totally wrong. If you
54 look at all of the information that we know today, or if
55 you look at the medicines that we know today, it is
56 evidence that that system works.
57
58 Q. I would not agree with that. So, these tests that you are
59 aware of, they last about five years, did they?
60 A. The average test for any approval of any medication or
