HC Deb 25 October 1971 vol 823 c276W
Mr. Pavitt

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now invite the Medicines Commission to re-examine the position of issuing a licence for the manufacture of J. Collis Browne's compound in the light of information sent to him by the hon. Member for Willesden, West.

Sir K. Joseph

I have considered the information about this product which the lion. Member sent to my predecessor two years ago and I do not think that any special action under the Medicines Act is required at the present time. The promoters of remedies on the market before 1st September, 1971, will be entitled to the issue by the licensing authority of licences of right if applied for in conformity with the conditions laid down in the Medicines Act, 1968. Such licences will not be required until a date yet to be fixed by Statutory Order. Until that date these products continue to be controlled under the pre-existing law. The general position is that licences issued under the Medicines Act can subsequently be suspended, revoked or varied, if the Committee on Safety of Medicines so recommends, on grounds of safety, efficacy or quality.