§ Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will resist(a) proposed restrictions on the purchase of a variety of veterinary medicines for treating horses and (b) proposed new tests on such medicines, provided they satisfy existing United Kingdom standards; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. SoamesI am not aware of any proposals for restrictions on the purchase of veterinary medicines for use in treating horses, nor for any proposed new tests on such medicines. The hon. Member may have in mind recent reports about the possible effects the establishment of maximum residue limits—MRLs—might have on the availability of equine medines. If so, the position remains as I set out in my reply to the hon. Member for Thanet, North (Mr. Gale),Official Report, column 491. Maximum residue limits must be established by 1996 for active ingredients in veterinary medicines used in food producing species. No MRLs are necessary, however, for medicines to be used in horses, irrespective of their value, which are not intended for human consumption.