HC Deb 15 July 1991 vol 195 cc64-5W
Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many umbrella product licences for parallel imported medicines that can be exploited by all its members have been granted to the Association of Pharmaceutical Importers;

(2) whether he has any plans to discontinue issue of umbrella product licences for parallel imported medicines to the Association of Pharmaceutical Importers, as an alternative to issuing licences to individual importers.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

The Association of Pharmaceutical Importers is not a parallel import licence holder. Licences can be issued to any company or individual meeting the criteria laid down in the Medicines Act 1968; related regulations and European guidelines may provide for a product to be placed on the market by named distributors.

We have no present plans for changing these arrangements.

Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether all persons or organisations involved in the parallel importing of medicines hold wholesale dealers licences.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

No. Not all importers are wholesale dealers, but those that are should either hold a wholesale dealer licence or operate from premises which are registered as pharmacies.

Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many organisations hold product licences to engage in the parallel importing of medicines; and how many such organisations hold wholesale dealers' licences.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

As at 30 June 1991 there were 38 parallel import licence holders of which 32 held wholesale dealers' licences.

Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the premises of all parallel importers of medicines who hold wholesale dealers' licences have been inspected by the United Kingdom medicines inspectorate.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

Yes, the premises of all wholesalers who are licensed to import medicines are inspected regularly.

Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many product licences have been granted for generic medicines where the finished product of the active ingredient has been produced in former COM ECON countries.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

This information is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.