§ Baroness Rendell of Baberghasked Her Majesty's Government:
What advice they have received from the Veterinary Products Committee on the Institute of Occupational Medicine's report on organophosphate sheep dips. [HL3716]
75WA
§ The Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Lord Donoughue)We have received advice from the Veterinary Products Committee (VPC) on the implications of the IOM report for marketing authorisations of OPs and, in particular, OP sheep dips. A copy of the VPC's advice has been placed in the Library of the House.
We have accepted the VPC's recommendation that marketing authorisation holders should be asked to submit practical and workable plans to improve and standardise the design of sheep dip containers with the objective of minimising operator contact with OP concentrate. If such plans are not submitted within three months, action will be commenced to revoke marketing authorisations.
We have also accepted recommendations on emphasising the importance of handling OP concentrate safely in advice to farmers and in training and the examination which leads to the issue of a certificate of competence. We are giving urgent consideration to the recommendation that handlers of OP sheep dip concentrate should be required to hold a certificate of competence.
The VPC made it clear that this is interim advice. The VPC will be offering further advice together with COT and the other independent advisory committees before the end of the year.