§ Dr. GibsonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the resistance conferring antibiotic Baytril used in treating growing turkeys and chickens. [137179]
§ Ms QuinBaytril 10 per cent. Oral Solution is an authorised veterinary medicinal product. It is used only under veterinary supervision to treat bacterial diseases of the respiratory and alimentary tracts in turkeys, broilers, broiler breeders and replacement chickens. No veterinary medicinal product may be marketed in the UK unless it meets stringent criteria of safety, quality and efficacy. For any new antibiotic, data are required to demonstrate the possibility of the development of resistance in susceptible organisms.
The advice of the independent Veterinary Products Committee (VPC) will be sought urgently on the decision by the US Food and Drug Agency's Center for Veterinary Medicines to prohibit the use in poultry of enrofloxacin, the active ingredient of Baytril. Action will be taken on the advice of the VPC.