§ Lord Pearson of Rannochasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Answer given by the Baroness Chalker of Wallasey on 25 January (H.L. Deb., cols. 1124–6), what sort of European legislative instrument is responsible for the current ban in the United Kingdom on the use of Emtryl; whether this was considered by the Council of Ministers; and, if so, what was the result of the Council's deliberations.
Lord Lucas:Council Regulation (EEC) 2377/90 requires the setting of maximum residue limits (MRLs) for the active ingredients of all veterinary medicinal 29WA products used in food producing species. Following a review of dimetridazole, the active ingredient of Emtryl, the European Commission proposed that it be included in Annex IV of the Regulation (in effect, banned). Following consideration by the appropriate Regulatory Committee, in accordance with Article 8 of Regulation 2377/90, the proposal was put to the Council of Agriculture Ministers. In the absence of a simple majority against the proposal within three months of its submission, the Commission was able to proceed. Commission Regulation 1798/95, placing dimetridazole in Annex IV of the Council Regulation, was therefore published on 25 July 1995 and came into effect 60 days later.