HL Deb 24 October 2001 vol 627 cc134-5WA
The Countess of Mar

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they are aware of any tests or field trials of foot and mouth vaccines in the United Kingdom from 1999 to 2001; if so who carried out the tests; and in which localities. [HL555]

Lord Whitty

The only organisations licensed to work with live FMD virus in the United Kingdom are the IAH Pirbright laboratory and the Merial Animal Health Company's vaccine manufacturing laboratory which is adjacent to, but separate from, the IAH laboratory. Both organisations are licensed by the Government to work under conditions of maximum biosecurity and are independently monitored.

Routine animal testing of FMD vaccines is carried out exclusively in the high security containment facilities of the IAH Pirbright laboratory. These laboratories have operated safely and successfully for many years. We know of no field trials of FMD vaccine conducted in the UK between 1999 and 2001, or indeed at any other time previously. The IAH laboratory carries out diagnostic testing, molecular epidemiology and a range of research activities, including vaccine research. The Merial laboratory routinely manufactures vaccines, including inactivated FMD vaccines.