[Growth promotors in animal husbandry: between fancy and fact]

The use of growth promotors, such as steroid hormones, beta-agonists and somatotropins, may result in animal health and welfare risks and raise ethical questions. From this point of view some fundamental statements are discussed. Growth promotors do not contribute to an efficient production of essential nutritional needs for man. There is a need for a consistent policy aiming at sustainable agriculture and world food supply. Animal husbandry cannot be regarded as a simple technical-economical enterprise because of the intrinsic biological values involved. If growth promotors are almost exclusively judged on safety criteria than questions of principle are avoided. The choice to use growth promotors cannot be left to self-regulation based on self-interest and/or be made subject to international trade agreements governed by economic considerations only. In the production of food the price for the protection of the environment and the animals ought to be paid. It is time to make future oriented choices.