§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will suspend consideration of the recent application to conduct a clinical trial of a xenotransplantation 167W procedure on humans until the code of practice on the welfare of xenotransplantation source animals is in place;[69313]
(2) what legislation would govern the treatment of animals used to provide cells or tissue for any clinical trial of a xenotransplantation procedure on humans approved by the United Kingdom Xenotransplantation Interim Regulatory Authority, before the establishment of the code of practice on the welfare of xenotransplantation source animals. [69312]
§ Mr. HuttonThe Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 regulates any use of living vertebrate animals plus octopus vulgaris in procedures which might cause pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm. Responsibility for the Act, including the welfare of animals which may be used as sources of xenotransplantation, lies with the Home Office in Great Britain and the Department of Health and Social Services in Northern Ireland.
The Code of Practice on the welfare of high health status pigs as xenotransplantation source animals is currently being developed by the Home Office Animal (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate. Members of the United Kingdom Xenotransplantation Interim Regulatory Authority (UKXIRA) have met representatives of the Inspectorate to discuss specific elements of the proposed code of Practice and welfare issues concerning source animals for xenotransplantation in general.
In considering any application to undertake a xenotransplantation procedure involving humans, the UKXIRA would expect to see evidence of animal welfare standards at least equal to those discussed with the Home Office Animal (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate. The Code of Practice is expected to be published later this year.