§ Sir R. Taskerasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that a certain company has been endeavouring for three years, by application to the Home Office, to secure the exemption from the First Schedule to the Poisons and Pharmacy Act of a well-known and widely-used toothpaste manufactured in this country, that their appeal has been endorsed by over 500 practising dentists and licentiates in dental surgery; and will he take steps to ensure that the company's petition for exemption receives early attention?
§ Sir S. HoareThe manufacturers of a toothpaste which contains an organic compound of arsenic, applied to the Home2080W Office in January, 1936, to have it excluded from the First Schedule to the Poisons Rules, 1935, and so exempted from certain requirements of the Pharmacy and Poisons Act, 1933. It would not be practicable or desirable to exempt particular proprietary products, but very careful consideration was given to the question whether there should be a general exemption for dentifrices containing organic compounds of arsenic. Full inquiries were made and I was advised that the application of the restriction did not adversely affect the interests of the public and that exemption should not be granted.
In July, 1938, the manufacturers again applied for exemption and submitted a list of dentists who are said to support the application. Further inquiries were made and I have referred the matter to the Poisons Board for consideration at their next meeting, which is likely, I understand, to be held in the near "future.