§ Lord Pearson of Rannochasked Her Majesty's Government:
What European legislation or proposals for legislation affect the use of Emtryl in the rearing of game birds.
§ Lord DonoughueCouncil Regulation (EEC) 2377/90 requires the setting of maximum residue limits for the active ingredients of all veterinary medicinal products used in food producing species. Following a review of dimetridazole, the active ingredient of the product Emtryl, the European Commission proposed that it be included in Annex IV of the Regulation, and a regulation entered into effect on 25 September 1995. Inclusion of Annex IV requires that, in principle, Marketing Authorisations for medicinal products containing dimetridazole should be withdrawn. However, because of serious health and welfare implications related to the rearing of game birds, we notified the Commission, under Article 9 of Council Regulation (EEC) 2377/90, that the UK had temporarily suspended the operation at the Commission Regulation No. 1798/95, which placed dimetridazole in Annex IV. We are currently conducting a residues surveillance programme in pheasants and partridges, the objective of which is to demonstrate that dimetridazole can be safely used in the treatment of game birds without creating any risk to human health. Results are being reported to the European Commission.