§ Lord Clement-Jonesasked Her Majesty's Government:
In the light of the comment of Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 11 May that "we are consulting with industry, professional and consumer interests on the nomination of suitably qualified people" (H.L. Deb., col. 1089), to serve on the independent review panel, why in the review decisions on advertisements to be made by the Medicines Control Agency under the new Medicines (Advertising and Monitoring of Advertising) Amendment Regulations neither the National Association of Health Stores nor the Health Food Manufacturers Association has been included among those consulted. [HL2597]
§ Baroness HaymanWhen consulting interested parties on matters relating to medicines, the Medicines Control Agency considers which organisations are most likely to be affected by the particular proposals under consultation. The Independent Review Panel will not consider advertising for health foods or unlicensed herbal and vitamin products. I refer the noble Lord to the reply I gave the noble Baroness, Lady Wharton, on 26 April 1999 at col.WA 14. Officials at the Department of Health have now sent a copy of the letter to the organisations he mentions.