asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state whether his Department has examined and approved of any proprietary anti-distemper vaccines; and if so, if he will state their descriptions, the names of their manufacturers, and the countries of origin.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Anti-Distemper Vaccines.
Applications to import canine distemper vaccine, manufactured by Evans Medical Supplies, Limited, Speke, Liverpool; "Yatren" canine and feline distemper vaccines, manufactured by the Phylax Serum Laboratories, Radlett, Hertfordshire, England; also "Wellcome" Distemper Prophylactic Vaccine Method I (Vaccine Virus); "Wellcome" Distemper Prophylactic Virus (Dried) Method I (Vaccine-Virus Diluting Fluid for Dried Virus); and Distemper Prophylactic Method II (Virus-Serum), manufactured by Burroughs Wellcome and Co., London, have been examined by my Department, and import licences under the Therapeutic Substances Act, 1932, have been granted in respect thereof.
asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state whether an anti-distemper vaccine for dogs, P.V. 103, of the Laboratories, Venus Hill, Bovingdon, Hertfordshire, England, has been approved by the British Ministry of Agriculture; the total quantity and value imported here since the 1st January, 1946; further, whether there are any restrictions on its import here; if so, the reason for such restrictions; and also, whether any customs duty is payable on this vaccine.
There is no information in my Department as to whether P.V. 103 anti-distemper vaccine for dogs, manufactured by the P.C. Laboratories, Venus Hill, Bovingdon, Hertfordshire, England, has been approved by the British Ministry of Agriculture. Under the Therapeutic Substances Act, 1932, the import of all vaccines is prohibited, except under licence. A licence has not been granted for the import of this particular vaccine. In asmuch as a licence has not been issued in respect of the vaccine, the total quantity and value of the substance imported during the period mentioned may be regarded as nil. Any person importing the vaccine, save in accordance with a licence under the Therapeutic Substances Act, would be liable to heavy penalties. I understand that, on the information available as to the nature of this vaccine, it is not liable to customs duty.
In view of the fact that this vaccine is approved by the British Department, will the Minister say why he has refused to issue a licence?
I have no information that the vaccine has been, in fact, approved by the British Minister of Agriculture.
Is the Minister prepared to investigate the matter?
I am but I am not prepared to grant a licence for its import merely on the ground that it has been approved by the British Minister of Agriculture.