§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to stop the distribution of Enterovioform until after the present urgent examination by the Committee on Safety of Medicines is concluded.
§ Mr. Lambieasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will stop the sale of Enterovioform until he gets the results of the review being carried out by the Committee on Safety of Medicines.
§ Mr. Moyle,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 19th July 1977; Vol. 935, c. 437–8], gave the following information:
The Committee on Safety of Medicines has now reviewed the safety and efficacy of clioquinol, the active ingredient of enterovioform, for the prevention and treatment of travellers' diarrhoea. They are satisfied that the hazard of sub-acute myelo optic neuropathy (SMON) is insignificant at the approved dosage levels but consider there is inadequate evidence to support a claim of efficacy for these indications. The companies concerned have been notified of the Committee's view that oral preparations containing clioquinol should not be recommended for the prevention and treatment of travellers' diarrhoea. Such preparations will continue to be available for treating other conditions but it is proposed to take legislative action to ensure that they are available only on a doctor's prescription.