§ Miss Geraldine SmithTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what performance targets he has set for the Veterinary Medicines Directorate for 1998–99; and if he will make a statement. [40791]
Dr. John CunninghamI have set the following performance targets for the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) for 1998–99:
Safety and Quality
Enter Suspected Adverse Reaction Surveillance Scheme (SARSS) reports on to the database as follows:human reports: within 2 working daysserious animal reports: within 2 working daysnon-serious animal reports: within 10 working days.Report to the Veterinary Products Committee (VPC) each quarter reviewing trends in SARSS reports and identifying areas requiring evaluation.Collect and analyse 95 per cent. of the samples in the national residues surveillance plan.Provide high quality policy advice to Ministers.Provide high quality scientific assessment work.Standards of Service
100 per cent. compliance with timetables for centralised and decentralised authorisation procedures (including maximum residue limits).90 per cent. of new marketing authorisations to be determined or referred to the VPC within 120 clock days.100 per cent. of new marketing authorisations to be determined within 210 clock days.100 per cent. of valid applications to have first assessment by 75 clock days and to be determined by 150 clock days.100 per cent. of valid renewal applications to have first assessment by 90 clock days and to be determined by 180 clock days.People
Achieve Investors in People accreditation by 31 March 1999.Financial Control
Recover from industry and Government the full economic cost (calculated according to accruals accounting) of each of its main business activities (licensing and surveillance; policy work; residue monitoring).Operate within the net cash allocations agreed for VMD by MAFF's Management Board.