§ Mr. Bodyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what tests or experiments have been carried out in the Central Veterinary Laboratory, Weybridge, to ascertain whether cows' milk may be contaminated when organo-phosphorus compounds are applied on a dairy herd as a precaution against warble fly.
§ Mrs. FennerAll veterinary medicines have to be licensed under the Medicines Act 1968. Licences are issued only after a thorough evaluation of data submitted by the applicant demonstrating the safety, quality and efficacy of the product. The assessment of safety includes the safety of the consumer of meat, milk or eggs from treated animals and of persons handling or administering the product as well as the safety of the target animal. Where necessary, the product licence specifies a withholding period between administration of the product and the taking of meat, milk or eggs for human consumption. The product licences for warble fly treatments containing organo-phosphorus compounds as the active ingredient specify a withholding period of six hours.
In view of the Medicines Act requirements, I see no need for tests to be carried out at the central veterinary laboratory.
§ Mr. Bodyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will list the organo-phosphorus compounds which farmers must use to comply with the regulations against warble fly.
§ Mrs. FennerThe Warble Fly (England and Wales) Order 1982 provides that only systemic warble fly treatments licensed under the Medicines Act 1968 may be used for the compulsory treatment of animals.
Six products, all of which contain an organo-phosphorus compound as the active ingredient, are currently licensed under the Medicines Act as warble fly treatments for dairy cattle. They are:
Tiguvon (active ingredient Fenthion 2 per cent.)Orbisect Warble Fly Liquid (active ingredient Phosmet (prolate) 13.3 per cent.)Dermot (active ingredient Phosmet (prolate) 13.3 per cent.)Warbexol (active ingredient Famphur 12.5 per cent.)Cooper Warble Fly Liquid (active ingredient Phosmet (prolate) 13.3 per cent.)Young's Poron 20 (active ingredient Phosmet (prolate) 20 per cent.)Some of these products are also marketed under alternative names.
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§ Mr. Bodyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has investigated the use of the Derris compound in other countries for the eradication of warble fly.
§ Mrs. FennerA number of countries, including other member states of the Community, the United States of America and Canada, undertake measures to control warble fly. All utilise systemic treatments similar to the ones used in this country. Derris is incompatible with our control and eradication schemes because it can only be used effectively during a short period in the year when the warble larvae have punctured the hide of an animal.