§ Dr. GibsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what research the Government have commissioned on the effects of organophosphates using human subjects; [57867]
(2) what reports the Government routinely receive from independent research bodies relating to the effects of organosphosphates on human subjects. [57866]
§ Ms JowellI refer my hon. Friend to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food publication PB 3814: "Official Group on OPs Report to Ministers" which gives details of all Government-funded research and development projects with a direct relevance to organophosphates. Copies are available in the Library.
The Government do not routinely receive reports from independent research bodies relating to the effects of organosphosphates (OPs) on human subjects. However, as part of the approvals processes for products containing OPs, from time to time, data which have been obtained using human subjects may be submitted to the regulatory authorities by manufacturers. I also refer my hon. Friend to the reply my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food gave him on 19 October 1998, Official Report, column 1057, which gave more information about the circumstances in which research data on human subjects may be required.