HC Deb 02 April 1996 vol 275 cc178-9W
Dr. Lynne Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of health risks involved in the use of bovine serum for the production of vaccines for(a) human and (b) animal use. [23518]

Mr. Horam

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Woolwich (Mr. Austin-Walker) on 26 March,Official Report, column 517. United Kingdom licensed vaccines comply fully with European guidelines produced by the European Committee on Proprietary Medicinal Products, "Minimising the risk of transmission of agents causing spongiform encephalopathies via medicinal products", copies of which are available in the Library. Currently, licensed vaccines do not contain any bovine material sourced from the United Kingdom. Matters regarding the production for vaccines for animals are the responsibility of my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Dr. Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if serum of bovine origin is used in the production of vaccines for(a) human and (b) animal use. [23516]

Mr. Horam

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Woolwich (Mr. Austin-Walker on 26 March,Official Report, column 517. The manufacture of vaccines can involve the use of foetal calf serum, but this is reduced to minute levels in the finished vaccine in line with the European Union-World Health Organisation guidelines. Foetal calf serum used in the manufacture of United Kingdom licensed vaccines is sourced from outside the UK and no bovine spongiform encephalopathy infectivity has been detected in foetal calf serum. Matters regarding the production of vaccines for animals are the responsibility of my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Dr. Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what controls are in place in respect of the country of origin of serum of bovine origin used in the production of vaccines for(a) human and (b) animal use. [23517]

Mr. Horam

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Woolwich (Mr. Austin-Walker) on 26 March,Official Report, column 517. Manufacturers of vaccines are bound, by the conditions of their product licence, to comply with the European Committee on Proprietary Medicinal Products guidelines on "Minimising the risk of transmission of agents causing spongiform encephalopathies via medicinal products", copies of which are available in the Library. Matters regarding the production of vaccines for animals are the responsibility of my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.