§ Mr. GaleTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps are being taken to ensure that products of the blood products laboratory meet the conditions laid down under the Medicines Act and enforced by the Medicines Control Agency;
(2) what proposals his Department has to import unlicensed plasma products from unlicensed overseas sources.
§ Mr. DorrellThe bioproducts laboratory is not at present covered by the licensing requirements of the Medicines Act because of Crown immunity. However, some of its products are so licensed and it will be seeking licences for other products under the arrangements leading to the removal of Crown immunity. For many years the BPL has been inspected by the medicines inspectorate and its products have been tested by the National Institute of Biological Standards and Control, as are similar licensed pharmaceutical products.
The Department has no plans to import plasma products.