Vol. 545 No. 1
159 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the extent of harmonisation of regulations concerning antibiotics for the treatment of mastitis in cows within the EU; if he will ensure that harmonisation is as effective as possible prior to a decision to impose prescription requirement on farmers for the use of antibiotics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29835/01]
The information available to me indicates that, with the exception of one member state, antibiotics for the treatment of mastitis in cows are subject to prescription con trol throughout the EU. The European Commission is aware of Ireland's view that the operation of prescription regimes across member states needs to be harmonised in the interests of more effective regulation of the EU veterinary medicines market. This aspect will be further pursued in the context of forthcoming discussions on a package of Commission proposals affecting the veterinary medicines sector.
The Irish Medicines Board has recommended that intramammary antibiotic medicines should be brought under prescription control. I have also drawn attention to the fact that it is recognised in the relevant report from the IMB that there would be difficulties in applying the current prescription rules in Irish legislation to intramammaries. Accordingly, my Department is now engaged in considering what changes to existing legislation will be necessary in order to have an effective and workable prescription regime applying to intramammaries. In this context, my Department has sought the views and suggestions of stakeholders on the optimum arrangements which might apply. Some stakeholders have already responded and I expect this process to be completed within the coming weeks. In formulating its proposals, my Department will not alone have regard to the views expressed by stakeholders, within the context of putting in place a suitable prescription regime but will also have due regard to arrangements in operation in other member states of the EU where prescription regimes currently apply to intramammaries.
