§ Mr. Formanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, having regard to its importance to the 393W British pharmaceutical and chemical industries, he has made arrangements to assess biological testing laboratories for compliance with good laboratory practice.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergThe Government have given detailed and careful consideration to the operation of a comprehensve good laboratory practice scheme in the United Kingdom. We are aware that it was very important for the international acceptance of toxicological test data from the United Kingdom that a scheme covering pharmaceuticals should be operational from 1 April 1983.
There have been extensive discussions between officials of Government Departments which have taken account of representations from the relevant industrial associations. The Government have decided that the Department of Health and Social Security, which is already responsible for other aspects of pharmaceuticals, will monitor compliance with good laboratory practice for United Kingdom laboratories involved in testing pharmaceuticals for the time being. The Health and Safety Executive will continue to operate its GLP scheme relating to industrial chemicals under the Notification of New Substances Regulations 1982. The Department and the HSE will make arrangements to ensure that there is no duplication of inspection. The operation of a comprehensive scheme in the longer term will be further studied urgently in consultation with industry and others concerned. Consideration will be given to the operation of the comprehensive scheme by either DHSS, the Health and Safety Executive or the National Testing Laboratory Accreditation Scheme.