§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will arrange for(a) Her Majesty's Customs and Excise to carry out sampling of all imports of drugs as a matter of routine and (b) all drug imports to have documentation certifying their manufacture; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir John CopeCustoms and Excise check imports of drugs on behalf of the Department of Health's Medicines Control Agency. Where appropriate these checks include sampling. Routine sampling and extended documentary requirements for all consignments, however, are not considered necessary by the agency. Testing is also carried out to the agency's standards in the country of origin or after importation.