§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to secure reciprocity between Great Britain and Japan for the recognition of results from animal trials in pharmacological research to enable the necessary clinical trials which follow to commence without delay.
§ Sir K. JosephI understand that the Committee on Safety of Medicines is willing to accept evidence of pharmacological and other studies in animals, undertaken overseas, provided there is evidence that the studies have been properly conducted and that the investigators have the necessary qualifications and experience.
My noble Friend the Minister of State raised this matter with the Japanese authorities during his visit last year, and the matter has been pursued on a number of occasions since then, but I regret to say that the position, at present, remains that their Ministry of Health and Welfare is not willing to accept the result of animal studies conducted overseas, and continues to require certain studies to be undertaken in Japan.