HC Deb 04 December 1997 vol 302 cc351-2W
14. Charlotte Atkins

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress is being made towards a moratorium on the use of organophosphates in sheep dips. [17678]

Mr. Rooker

No veterinary medicine is authorised for use unless it meets stringent statutory criteria of safety, quality and efficacy. The Government act on the advice of the independent scientific Veterinary Products Committee, which has recently reaffirmed its advice that, provided they are used safely, there is no scientific justification for withdrawing organophosphate sheep dips from the market.

We constantly remind users of the need to follow instructions and advice as to procedure in use of such authorised products.

Dr. Brand

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to implement recommendations made in the 1997 Veterinary Products Committee Report, with particular reference to those relating to the use and purchase of organophosphorous sheep dips. [18164]

Mr. Rooker

New guidance from the Health and Safety Executive will be sent to all registered sheep farmers in the New Year. It will emphasise the importance of the Certificate of Competence in the Safe Use of Sheep Dips. It will explain practical measures for planning and carrying out dipping, including the steps necessary under the Control of Substances to Health Regulations 1994 (COSHH) to assess the risks and decide what precautions are needed, and will advise on safe disposal of used sheep dip.

In parallel, the National Proficiency Tests Council is reviewing its testing scheme for the Certificate of Competence and will incorporate the recommendations of the Veterinary Products Committee (VPC).

Other recommendations of the VPC, relating to supply of organophosphate (OP) dips by veterinarians, labelling, disposal, research and reviews of non-OP dips and other OP veterinary medicines, have been implemented or are being actively pursued.

Mr. Llwyd

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many people have notified his Ministry or the Department of Health to date that they are suffering from the toxic side effects of exposure to organophosphate sheep dips; and if he will make a statement. [18208]

Mr. Rooker

The Department of Health does not keep records of human suspected adverse reactions (SARs) to veterinary medicines, which are reported to the Suspected Adverse Reaction Surveillance Scheme (SARSS) run by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate. Reports of the Appraisal Panel for human SARs are published annually and are available in the Library of the House. The Panel's Report for 1996 will be published shortly. It will show that, for the 11 years up to December 1996, there were 602 reports of human SARs to organophosphorus sheep dips.