§ (a) Published Papers
§ Report of National Poisons Unit survey of exposure to sheep dip (1991).
§ Veterinary Medicines Directorate/Health and Safety Executive guidance leaflets on safe handling and disposal of sheep dips and Control of Substances Hazardous to Health requirements.
§ National Office of Animal Health leaflet on Organophosphorous Sheep Dips (November 1992).
§ National Proficiency Tests Council, Certificates of Competence in the Safe Use of Veterinary Medicines (1993).
§ Report on toxic chemicals in agriculture (Zuckerman Report)—1951 (HMSO).
§ Chronic painters' syndrome, P. Arlien-Soborg et. al., in Acta neurol, scandinay., 60 (1979).
§ (b) Preliminary Papers intended for future publication by their authors
§ Report of consideration of suspected adverse reactions by the Appraisal Panel for Human Suspected Adverse Reactions to Veterinary Medicines.
§ Preliminary report from the Institute of Occupational Medicine on an assessment of occupational hygiene and exposure to insecticides and the effectiveness of protective clothing during sheep dipping operations.
§ Preliminary results of a study of the electrophysiological changes in the neuromuscular system and biochemical effects of a single dose of organophosphate in the mouse by S. S. Kelly, E. Mutch, F. M. Williams and P. G. Blain.
§ Draft results of a study of peripheral nerve dysfunction in farmers using sheep dip, undertaken by Dr. G. A. Jamal and others.
§ (c) VPC Papers available to inquirers
93WA§ Summary of existing scientific literature on long-term effects of organophosphorus compounds in humans.
§ Summary of current research into organophosphorus compounds.
§ Paper on disposal of sheep dips.
§ A paper on product labels: operator and environmental warnings.
§ Summary of suspected human adverse reaction reports received by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate.
§ Text of presentation made by Mrs. E. Sigmund, South-West Environmental Protection Agency.
§ Summary of presentation made by the Institute of Occupational Medicine, Edinburgh.
§ A simplified overview of the spectrum of efficacy of sheep ectoparasiticides used in the U.K.
§ (d) VPC papers containing confidential information
§ Details of products currently licensed as ectoparasiticides for sheep.
§ Evaluation of toxicity data and estimation of consumer risk for:
- Chlorfenvinphos
- diazinon
- propetamphos
§ Data on impurities present in diazinon, chlorfenvinphos and propetamphos used in the manufacture of sheep dips.
§ Data on residues in fleece and lanolin and problems for the wollen industry."
§ The Minister has accepted this advice and our officials are now discussing with representatives of the veterinary pharmaceutical industry, the companies concerned and other interested parties the arrangements for the urgent implementation of the committee's recommendations.
§ We are grateful to the committee for the full and careful consideration they have given to these difficult issues, and look forward to receiving further advice after their October meeting.
§ Copies of the published papers, and those marked available to inquirers, identified in the Annex listing papers considered by the Veterinary Products Committee at its meeting, have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.