§ Dr. IddonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the remit of the Medicines Control Agency is, with particular reference to areas of activity other than the licensing of medicines. [80220]
§ Ms JowellThe Medicines Control Agency's primary objective is to safeguard public health by ensuring that all medicines on the United Kingdom market meet the appropriate standards of safety, quality and efficacy. As well as achieving this through a system of licensing before the marketing of medicines, the agency is also responsible for the monitoring of medicines and acting on safety concerns after the medicines have been placed on the market. The agency checks and monitors the standards of pharmaceutical manufacture and wholesaling, represents UK pharmaceutical regulatory interests internationally, and manages the British Pharmacopoeia Commission in setting quality standards for drug substances. It is also responsible for medicines control policy and enforcement of these requirements.