Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 April 2004
249 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food, further to Parliamentary Question No. 154 of 18 October 2003, his plans for intramammary medicines; if he has received the report of the Irish Medicines Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11957/04]
View answerOn 16 February 2004 I announced that my Department had finalised its review of the national veterinary medicines control regime. I said then that it is appropriate to make a number of changes to the 1996 animal remedies regulations to accommodate not only the IMB report, but also to take account of a range of developments since the legislation was put in place and prospective developments, including at EU level. Developments include amendments to the rules governing prescribing by veterinary surgeons which, inter alia, will enable intramammaries to be brought under a workable and effective prescription control regime, thus giving effect to the key recommendation of the IMB report. It is important to recall that the IMB report on this issue was founded on public health concerns relating to the use of antibiotics and the growth in the human population of anti-microbial resistance, which has implications for health management and the treatment of illnesses.
My Department has conducted a round of briefing sessions with stakeholders to outline the proposed changes. Consideration is being given to submissions which have been received, following which the animal remedies consultative committee will be convened as required by the relevant legislation to consider the proposed changes. I intend to implement the relevant changes at an early date.
