US embassy cable - 02ROME590

UNCLAS ROME 000590 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE PASS USDA FOR FAS/CMP/DLP/SINDELARE 
CMP/G&F/RIEMENSCHNEIDER; CMP/COT/LBLUM 
ITP/EAMED/MACKE/RICHEY 
OFSTS/LHARBERT/APHIS/ATORRES 
STATE PASS USTR 
BRUSSELS ALSO FOR USEU                   - 
GENEVA FOR USTR, ALSO AGRICULTURE 
MILAN FOR PRINCIPAL OFFICER 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
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FLORENCE FOR PRINCIPAL OFFICER 
NAPLES FOR PRINCIPAL OFFICER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAGR, ETRD, EU, IT, EUN 
SUBJECT: ITALIAN BOVINES POSITIVE TO 
BOLDENONE HORMONE 
 
 
1.  MORE THAN 20,000 BOVINES, ALMOST 
EXCLUSIVELY CALVES, WERE FOUND POSITIVE TO 
BOLDENONE STEROID HORMONES AND SEIZED IN 50 
CATTLE FARMS BY THE ANTI-ADULTERATION UNITS 
OF ITALY'S CARABINIERI. 
 
2.  THE INVESTIGATION WAS STARTED IN DECEMBER 
2001 WITHIN THE NATIONAL RESIDUE CONTROL 
PROGRAM CONDUCTED BY THE ITALIAN VETERINARIAN 
SERVICE OF MINISTRY OF HEALTH.  THE 
OPERATION, WITH RAIDS AT FARMS, 
FEED-PRODUCTION COMPANIES AND VETERINARY 
PRACTICES IN SEVERAL NORTHERN ITALIAN 
REGIONS, LOMBARDIA, PIEMONTE, VENETO, FRIULI, 
EMILIA-ROMAGNA, STILL CONTINUES AND COULD 
INVOLVE MORE ANIMAL AND PEOPLE. 
ACCORDING TO THE ITALIAN VETERINARIAN 
SERVICE, BOLDENONE WAS IMPORTED FROM THE U.S. 
AND ILLEGALLY USED TO INCREASE THE SIZE OF 
MUSCLES. ONCE TEST IS CONFIRMED POSITIVE, 
ANIMALS WILL BE DESTROYED.  CONFIRMATION 
TESTS HAVE BEEN DONE FOR MANY ANIMALS AND 
RESULTS WERE POSITIVE.  HOWEVER, ANIMALS HAVE 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
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NOT YET BEEN DESTROYED BECAUSE THEORETICALLY 
BOLDENONE COULD ALSO BE NATURALLY PRESENT IN 
FEED.  ITALIAN VETERINARIAN SERVICES ARE 
DOING A SURVEY ON THIS ISSUE.  THEY WOULD 
APPRECIATE ANY INFORMATION FROM THE U.S. 
 
3.  ALTHOUGH ILLEGAL HORMONE USE IS AN 
ADMINISTRATIVE CRIME, THE CHARGE OF 
ADULTERATING FOOD FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION IS 
CONSIDERED A CRIMINAL ACTION AND INVOLVED 
PEOPLE RISK PRISON. 
 
4.  NO CONNECTION EXISTS WITH AN HORMONE 
TRAFFIC BETWEEN SPAIN AND ITALY REPORTED IN 
NOVEMBER 2001.   SEMBLER 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
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 2002ROME00590 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED