§ Mr. Gryllsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the Medicines (Exemption from Licences) (Importation) Order 1978 allows the importation of medicines from foreign countries which are then made available for general prescription, as opposed to supply for particular patients within the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. John PattenThe Medicines (Exemption from Licences) (Importation) Order 1978 permits the importation of medicinal products for supply against prescription. We are concerned that drugs imported into this country for general prescription should be of the same standards of safety, quality and efficacy as those manufactured here and we are urgently considering whether additional measures may be necessary to ensure this.