Equine Medicines (Hansard, 3 March 1994)

The Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Earl Howe)
My Lords, there are no current proposals for European Union regulations on equine medicines. The noble Viscount may, however, have in mind Council Regulation 2377/90 under which maximum residue limits (MRLs) must be established by 1996 for active ingredients in veterinary medicines used in food producing species. The European Commission has confirmed this morning that, in line with existing UK policy, if a horse is not destined for human consumption, maximum residue limits will not be required.

§ Viscount Allenby of Megiddo
My Lords, I thank the Minister for that Answer and indeed for the reassurances that it brings. I believe everyone will be pleased at what he has said. However, until such time as a firm and practical agreement is in place within the European Commission, does he not agree that horse owners may be deprived of the ability to carry out their legal responsibility properly to care for their animals? Similarly, veterinary surgeons may be unable fully to carry out their professional responsibilities. Finally, does the Minister agree that potentially curable animals could well face premature slaughter?

Earl Howe
My Lords, in the light of my initial Answer, I believe that the noble Viscount will find that his fears are quite groundless. Any suggestion that only high value horses will be covered by MRL exemptions is a misinterpretation of what the Commission has said. It has merely given some examples among which high value animals are featured. UK policy applies to all horses irrespective of value.

§ Lord Molloy
My Lords, do the Government or the Minister's department consult closely with the British Veterinary Association, as that body can give them proper and worthwhile guidance on these matters?

Earl Howe
My Lords, the Government's links with the British Veterinary Association are indeed close. We have worked closely with the association on this matter and I am sure that we have found an acceptable solution.

§ Lord Soulsby of Swaffham Prior
My Lords, while this issue is of particular concern to the United Kingdom, it is a problem for the whole of the European Union. The volume of sales of equine products is such that it is unlikely that many pharmaceutical houses will go to the effort or expend the funds involved in determining MRLs in these products. Therefore, as has been mentioned, a number of products may be withdrawn not only as regards equines of high value but also equines of low value. I refer to both economic value and value to riders. In this respect will the Minister 1129 support efforts by bodies such as the BVA and the veterinary medicine directorate to join with the European Community bodies of comparable status in seeking to have some derogation applied to this measure at the source from whence it came; namely, Brussels?

Earl Howe
My Lords, in certain countries of the European Union the consumption of horsemeat is a regular occurrence. That is not the practice in this country, which is why I gave the initial Answer that I did. The principle behind the regulation is not one with which, in logic, one can argue. Where meat enters the food chain, we must be able to ensure the safety of the consumer and we must give the pharmaceutical industry a proper framework in which to operate. It is to everyone's advantage to know what the safety levels are. I shall, however, reflect on my noble friend's suggestion to see whether there is anything that we in the UK can do to assist other member states.

§ Baroness Wharton
My Lords, is there any evidence of public health problems arising from the residues of current animal medicines, either in the EC or elsewhere?

Earl Howe
My Lords, I am not aware of any particular incidents in the UK, but incidents have arisen in other member states— for example, Spain and Ireland — in other species arising from the misuse of medicinal products. It is only right that the Community should take appropriate action to safeguard human health.

§ Lord Carter
My Lords, will the Minister confirm that, if the Commission had not changed its stance on MRLs, the effect of the original proposal would have been devastating for the race-horse industry? Will the Government ensure that the Commission does not resile in any way from the policy which, as the Minister mentioned, was confirmed only this morning?

Earl Howe
My Lords, had the Commission not issued the clarification that it did, I would have told the House that we were confident that a full and adequate range of veterinary medicines would be available for treating horses. Nevertheless I take note of what the noble Lord has said. As far as I can see, the Commission's clarification is quite unequivocal and we shall proceed on that basis.

§ Lord Burnham
My Lords, does my noble friend agree that there are certain veterinary medicines which may legally be used for other animals but which may not be used legally in the context of horses? In this context might it not be desirable that the horse should be classified as a goat or a rabbit, which we sometimes believe it resembles, and in that case would not be subject to these regulations?

Earl Howe
My Lords, I think that my noble friend's point is somewhat academic in that, under the rules as we now understand them, the horse will effectively be exempt from the rules surrounding MRLs anyway.