Medicines for Food-producing Animals

HL Deb 31 October 2001 vol 627 cc167-8WA

Lord Kilclooney

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they support the European Union's proposal that all medicines for food-producing animals must be prescribed by a veterinary surgeon; and what would be the impact on United Kingdom farming costs. [HL948]

Lord Whitty

This proposal forms part of a much wider set of proposals produced by the European Commission to amend the procedures for the authorisation and control of both human and veterinary medicines in the EU. In its present form this particular proposal could result in UK farmers having to pay more by incurring veterinary surgeons' fees when obtaining those medicines that are currently available without veterinary intervention. In considering this proposal the Government have taken account of its likely impact on the supply of veterinary medicines and have agreed that, during negotiations, UK officials should seek to modify the proposal to enable a flexible approach to the distribution of veterinary medicinal products that takes advantage of existing national practices, so long as consumer protection and animal welfare can be demonstrably assured.