§ Mr. Steelasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the stringency of tests on medicines for animal consumption.
§ Mr. YoungerVeterinary medicines as well as human ones must be licensed under the Medicines Act 1968. Licences are granted only after a thorough evaluation of data relating to the safety, quality and efficacy of the product. The assessment covers the safety of consumers of produce from treated animals as well as that of the animals themselves. In licensing the products Ministers are advised by a statutory committee of independent experts in animal and human health, the Veterinary Products Committee. Amongst other things the product licence specifies any necessary recommendations for the safe use of the product, such as the withdrawal period to be observed before produce from a treated animal is used for human consumption.