§ Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what further meetings have taken place of his Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment since December 1984; whether it has further reviewed the possible links between chrysoidine dye and bladder cancer and especially the effects on anglers who use chrysoidine-dyed maggots; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what further evidence the Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment has sought and examined on the possible clinical and epidemiological effects of chrysoidine dye; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. John PattenThe Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment has held two meetings since December 1984. In the absence of any new evidence at the time relating to the health effects of chrysoidine dye, the committee did not review the advice it had previously given, and to which I referred in my reply to the right hon. Member on 21 January at column342.
§ Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will examine the case control study undertaken by two researchers in Birmingham, a copy of which he has received, concerning coarse fishing and the risk of urothelial cancer and the links with chrysoidine dye; whether he will now ban the use of chrysoidine dye; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John PattenWe are taking medical advice on the report of this study. Any ban on the supply of chrysoidine for use as a maggot-dye would be a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. Acting on medical advice from this Department, he has already advised anglers to exercise care when using the dye. In the light of the advice we ourselves receive, further advice will be given to my right hon. Friend.