NOAH comments on the IOM report
The National Office of Animal Health will be considering carefully the
report from the Institute of Occupational Medicine on the effects of occupational exposure
to sheep dips, published today. Once NOAH has had the opportunity of seeing and studying
the full report in detail it will be in a position to make a full response. There will be
much scientific evidence to examine and NOAH looks forward to doing this.
NOAH welcomes the proposed meeting with the Minister to discuss the
report.
OP dips are vital in the fight against
devastating disease of sheep scab, and are the products of choice of many farmers. Reports
suggest that their popularity is increasing this year, because they represent an effective
and economic option – especially important at this time when the sheep industry is
suffering a dramatic downturn.
The potential risk involved with handling these products is nothing
new. For over a quarter of a century dip manufacturers have been recommending protective
clothing should be worn.
Dip companies, within the constraints of the licensing system, have
been improving the packaging and labelling of their products to help minimise the risk of
exposure to concentrates. For example, packs have been modified by introducing larger
apertures to reduce splashing, the largest packs have been phased out, and label wording
has been regularly revised in collaboration with the Government’s own regulatory and
review bodies, the Veterinary Medicines
Directorate and the Veterinary Products Committee.
In August 1998, NOAH suggested to VMD
that warnings on labels should reflect relative risk and that those label warnings
relating to concentrate handling should be given greater prominence. This idea will be
discussed with the Minister, at the meeting next week.
Before this meeting, NOAH will be looking at the methodology and
conclusions of the report in detail.
1 July 1999
Notes for Editors
For further information contact Roger Cook or Alison
Glennon at NOAH, tel. +44 (0)20 8367 3131, or visit the NOAH
website.
The National Office of Animal Health was formed on 1
January 1986 to represent the UK companies which research, develop, manufacture and market
licensed animal health products. The association has 34 corporate members and 10 associate members.
In 1998 NOAH's members accounted for around 95% of the £384 million UK animal health
market, with additional valuable exports.
The Institute of Occupational Medicine report on the
effects of occupational exposure to sheep dips was commissioned by the Health and Safety
Executive, the Department
of Health, and the Ministry of
Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
See also
Briefing document "Organophosphates
for animal health"
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