§ Mr. Alan SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list details of reported cases, over the last five years, of allergic reactions to(a) homeopathic medicines, (b) herbal medicines and (c) vitamin and mineral supplements. [81064]
§ Ms JowellSuspected adverse drug reactions reported to the Committee on Safety of Medicines are recorded according to the active drug substance and reports for homeopathic medicines are not specifically identified as such. It is therefore not possible to provide a list of reported allergic reactions to homeopathic medicines.
The total number of suspected adverse drug reaction reports for any medicine containing a herbal ingredient, for the period 1 January 1994 to 31 December 1998, was 174. Suspected allergic reactions associated with medicines containing at least one herbal constituent, reported to the Committee on Safety of Medicines for the period 1 January 1994 until 31 December 1998, are given in the table.
zinc, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium fluoride, for the period 1 January 1994 to 31 December 1998, was 543. Suspected allergic reactions associated with these drug substances (excluding reports for injectable supplements), reported to the Committee on Safety of Medicines for the period 1 January 1994 until 31 December 1998, are given in the table.
§ Ms JowellOfficials from the Department have regular contact with officials from other countries, including the United States of America, for example by joint attendance at conferences. However, no meetings have taken place with officials from the United States of America Government to specifically discuss genetically modified organisms and the biotechnology industry.