§ Lord Moranasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether ivermectin, though it is not formally licensed for use on farmed salmonid fish and has therefore not been through the necessary ecotoxicity assessment, is nevertheless used on a number of fish farms under the "cascade" regulations which permit a vet to prescribe a non-approved medicine to "a small number of animals"; whether its discharge to the marine environment is explicitly permitted by a number of consents issued by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency; and, if so, whether they stand by the Written Answer by Lord Donoughue on 3 March (WA 158); and [HL2834]
Whether, in view of the conclusions of the two papers referred to in the Written Answer by the Lord Donoughue on 3 March (WA 158) the toxicity and environmental risks of ivermectin, it would now be prudent to stop all use of ivermectin on fish farms, including use under the "cascade" arrangements. [HL2835]
§ Lord SewelThe Veterinary Medicines Directorate has received no application for a marketing authorisation for the use of ivermectin on farmed salmon.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has consented a number of applications for the discharge of ivermectin prescribed under the "cascade" arrangements. Conditions have been attached to the consents. These are intended to satisfy SEPA's statutory functions in relation to protection of the water environment.
My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Scotland has received requests from a broad range of interests to call-in certain discharge consent applications in relation to the use of ivermectin for his own determination. The matter is under careful consideration.