§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the antibiotic hormone drugs given a product licence without reference to the veterinary products committee; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacleanThe only product of this kind licensed without specific reference to the veterinary products committee is Synulox Lactating Cow intrammary suspension (PL 0030/4000), which contains two antibiotics and a glucocorticoid anti-inflammatory agent. Between 1978 and 1984 the VPC reviewed fully the data relating to all intrammary products then on the market and recommended the renewal of licences for a number of them. When the Ministry's expert assessors examined the product licence application for Synulox in 1986 they considered that it raised no new issues not already addressed by the VPC and a licence was therefore granted.
Several members of the VPC subsequently asked for details of the assessment. They accepted officials' conclusions that no new safety or other issue was involved and it was agreed that any future applications for similar products would be referred to the VPC. No further applications have been received.