§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has had from the game rearing industry regarding the ban on Emtryl. [37430]
§ Mrs. BrowningWe have received a number of representations from the game rearing industry, including the Game Conservancy Trust and the Game Farmers Association.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence Ministers received from the Veterinary Medicines Directorate about the ban on dimetridazole. [37428]
§ Mrs. BrowningWe are aware of the concerns over this ban, and a number of options to overcome the consequential problems of the game rearing industry are under active consideration.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the effect of Emtryl on the economies of those areas of rural Britain where game birds are bred. [37432]
§ Mrs. BrowningTo official assessment has been made. We are aware however, that the banning of dimetridazole could lead to flock losses as high as 50 per cent. or more. This is why we are working with game bird organisations to try to find a solution.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the policy of Her Majesty's Government in respect of the recent European Union ban on the chemical dimetridazole sold under the trade name Emtryl. [37422]
§ Mrs. BrowningThe Government opposed the proposal to prohibit the therapeutic use of dimetridazole—Emtryl—by its inclusion in annex IV of Council regulation (EEC) 2377/90, on the grounds that the602W scientific data could enable a maximum residue limit to be set to protect consumers and because of the animal welfare problems which would result from a ban.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what weighting was given to the United Kingdom position on the European Union decision to ban Emtryl. [37431]
§ Mrs. BrowningThe position of the UK was accorded its due weight under the normal procedures of the Community. Decisions on entries in the annexes of Council regulation (EEC) 2377/90 are taken at regulatory committee by qualified majority voting. If referred to the Council of Agriculture Ministers, the contre filet procedure applies.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what alternative drugs are available to breeders of game birds to control hexamitiasis and trichomoniasis in larger flocks. [37429]
§ Mrs. BrowningWe are not aware that there are any satisfactory alternative medicinal products available to the game rearing industry for the treatment of these conditions.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if Her Majesty's Government will now take steps to suspend the European Union ban on Emtryl pending further investigations on alternative disease control agents. [37433]
§ Mrs. BrowningWe are considering a number of options to try to assist the game rearing industry as a result of this prohibition.