Xenotransplantation (Hansard, 23 July 1999)

§ Mr. Baker
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ensure that the code of practice on the welfare of xenotransplantation source animals strictly limits the early removal of piglets from their mothers. [92668]

§ Mr. George Howarth
It is likely that, in some circumstances, the early removal of piglets from their mothers will be essential in order to establish colonies of animals with the health status (i.e. the absence of particular pathogens) that will be necessary to minimise the risk of infection to the recipient. This will, however, require suitable project licence authority and will be allowed only where there is a demonstrable need to eliminate particular micro-organisms. All practicable safeguards will be put in place to protect the welfare of piglets.

§ Mr. Baker
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 5 July 1999,Official Report, column 333, what progress has been made with the investigation into Harlan UK Ltd; if he has received the advice on whether there is a need to suspend the establishment's certificate of designation for which he asked; and if he will make a statement. [92718]

§ Mr. George Howarth
I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Chatham and Aylesford (Mr. Shaw) on 14 July 1999,Official Report, columns 206–07, and to the reply 1 gave my hon. Friend the Member for North-West Leicestershire (Mr. Taylor) on 21 July 1999, Official Report, columns 527–28.

§ Mr. Baker
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will require Imutron's programme of breeding genetically engineered pigs to be suspended pending the finalisation of the code of practice on the welfare of xenotransplantation source animals. [92667]

§ Mr. George Howarth
Licences and certificates can be suspended under the terms of section 13 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 only if it appears that this is urgently necessary for the welfare of any protected animal. There are no such grounds for suspending the relevant licences.
The existing "Codes of Practice for the Housing and Care of Animals Used in Scientific Procedures" apply to these animals, as do the terms and conditions of the licences under which they are held.

§ Mr. Baker
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the advantages of(a) legally binding regulations and (b) a non-binding code of practice to protect genetically engineered pigs. [92669]
742W

§ Mr. George Howarth
The codes of practice issued under section 21(2) of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 are legally enforceable. Section 21(4) of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 allows any failure to comply with such a code of practice to be taken into account in any criminal or civil proceedings.
In addition, we have recently amended the standard conditions that apply to all designated establishments to require that approved areas be maintained to the standards set out in the codes of practice, unless otherwise authorised. Under section 10(7) of the Act, failure to comply with such a condition is a ground for the variation or revocation of the certificate. If pigs are not maintained to the standards set out in the new code of practice, authority to maintain these animals can be withdrawn.