asked the Minister for Agriculture his attitude to the EEC proposals for directives relating to veterinary products, in particular if he will accept the proposal that the administration to animals of a veterinary preparation for which an authorisation has not been issued by the competent authority be prohibited; and the general implications of the proposed directives for this country.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Veterinary Product Proposals.
18.
The proposals which are aimed at harmonising the laws of the individual member states regarding manufacture, importation and labelling of veterinary medicinal products would lay down certain standards to which such products must conform and would prohibit the marketing of or administration of a product unless it has been authorised by the competent national authority. There would be a number of exemptions to this rule, for example, medicated feeding stuffs or products made up by a veterinary surgeon, or on his prescription, for administration to individual animals in a herd which he is attending professionally.
In general, I am favourably disposed to the proposals which are still being discussed at official level in Brussels, because their objective is to guard against the misuse of veterinary medicinal products and to ensure that the quality of such products sold to farmers is satisfactory.
Can the Minister give an assurance that this directive will in no way interfere with the freedom which farmers now enjoy to purchase drugs for animals on the farm.
I think I can give that assurance. In fact, the directive will benefit the farmers as well as everybody else.
There is no interference with their ability to purchase direct?
No, not to my knowledge.