Veterinary Medicines Directorate (Hansard, 16 October 1991)

§ Mr. Maclean

The annual report of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate for 1990–91, its first as a next steps agency, was published on 31 July 1991. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

During the year under report, there was a significant increase in the number of applications for product licences of all types and a continuing heavy workload in other areas. Full costs have been recovered across all the sectors of VMD's business activities. This has been matched by improvements in service and the report describes the benefits which have accrued to the VMD's customers from the initiatives that have been put in place since the directorate was established as a next steps agency. The report confirms the high priority which the VMD gives to ensuring that the consumer, the animals themselves and the environment are properly protected through the licensing procedures for veterinary medicines.

The test results gathered for the calendar year 1990 under the national surveillance scheme, which monitors the levels of veterinary residues passing into the meat for human consumption, are also reported. Under this programme more than 48,500 samples were taken in 1990, an increase of almost 20 per cent. on the numbers sampled in 1989. I am pleased to say that the number of samples exceeding the recommended maximum residue limits were reassuringly low.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the chief executive and his staff on the progress they have made during this first year and look forward to receiving reports of further improvements in future years.