HL Deb 09 January 1996 vol 568 cc25-6WA
The Countess of Mar

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, when the licence was issued for Ciba-Geigy's Top Clip Gold Shield sheep dip, the fact that it would be used in conjunction with CS Disinfectant was taken into account.

Lord Lucas

As Top Clip Gold Shield sheep dip was already on the market when the provisions of the Medicines Act 1968 came into effect in 1971, it was granted a Product Licence of Right in accordance with Section 25 of the Act. This licence was subsequently varied in January 1979 to authorise the use of the product in the control of sheep scab. A further variation was granted in April 1980, to permit the use of CS Disinfectant as a bacteriostat if dipping could not he completed on the day the dip was prepared. This followed consideration by the Veterinary Products Committee of its use in conjunction with the sheep dip.

The Countess of Mar

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why the withdrawal periods for CS Disinfectant (28 days) and the organophosphate, Diazinon, (14 days) were not harmonised when sold together for combined use in Ciba-Geigy's Top Clip Gold Shield and whether they consider that there as an inherent risk that users would observe only the shorter period.

Lord Lucas

I am not aware of a 28-day withdrawal period being imposed for CS Disinfectant. If the noble Countess could provide me with any details she has, I will arrange for them to be looked into and will write to her, placing a copy in the Library of the House.