§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research his Department is conducting into alternatives to organophosphorous sheep dips; and if he plans to alter the regulations relating to such chemicals.
§ Mr. MacleanThe Department is currently funding research at Bristol university into fly control on sheep, with preference given to the use of non-organaphosphorous compounds. I have no plans to change the controls which apply to sheep dips under the Medicines Act.
§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the use of organophosphorous sheep dips.
§ Mr. MacleanSheep must be dipped to an approved standard under the terms of the Sheep Scab Order 1976, and the sheep dips authorised for this purpose under the Medicines Act have all been subject to a stringent review of their safety, quality and efficacy. Instructions and conditions of use are required to be specified on the product labels.