Dairy cows in Canada can not be given bovine growth hormone (rbST). Health Canada decided against licensing the hormone in January 1999 over concerns of its impact on cow welfare. Cows, like humans, do require antibiotics from time to time to treat infections. The milk from a cow treated with antibiotics is discarded. All milk undergoes rigorous testing procedures before it is even accepted for processing. Samples are collected on the farm and at the processing plant to ensure milk is safe.