JOGJAKARTA (KU) – The Government is urged to evaluate and tighten requirement for imported beef and liver. Research showed that imported beef and liver contain residual trenbolone hormones (hormones to boost cow growth). Constant consumption of those may lead to cancer and reproductive disturbance.
Such was said by Drh. Kisman Achmad Rasyid, MM, in the exam promotion to earn doctoral degree in Faculty of Veterinary Medicine on Monday (2/8). At Tanjung Priok port, he took 60 beef and liver samples that had been fattened for 2-5 months in Bogor and Sukabumi feedlotters. He detected 100% of them contain the hormones.
“We found the residues, almost 100% in average,” Rasyid said alongside the promotion. Despite the level of residues that is still under the limit set by the Codex Standard, 2 ppb for beef and 10 ppb for liver, constant consumption may cause cervical and breast cancers in women and prostate cancer in men. “Cervical, breast and prostate cancers are very likely to occur as a side-efect of the residues,” he said.
In Indonesia, trenbolone acetate use and distribution is not permitted. Referring to a Circular from the Human Health Directorate No 329/X-C Year 1983, Minister for Agriculture’s Decree No 806 Year 1994, and the result of the meeting of Indonesian Animal Drugs Commission on 12 August 1998, it is classified as a prescription drug.
“So, apparently it is already banned, but there is no strict control,” he explained. In some countries such as Australia and the USA, trenbolon hormones are used in animal industry, especially in cows and pigs, to increase efficiency of raising time and cattle performance, while in Europe, such hormones have been banned.
According to the man born in Bone, South Sulawesi on 20 August 1959, the distribution of beef and liver from Australia needs to be strictly regulated, to ensure that the use of this hormone is not allowed in Indonesia. Regular checks and monitoring needs to be done to know that this requirement has been met. “It’s time for us to monitor imported beef and liver, requiring 0% of residual trenbolone hormones,” Rasyid, the UGM 1249th doctoral graduate, said.
Meanwhile, his promoter, Professor of Veterinary Medicine, Prof. drh. R. Wasito, M.Sc., Ph.D., said that this research needs to be followed up by the Government through the Agriculture Ministry. Wasito said that the effects of the hormones are more dangerous than other infectious diseases.