Keep scientific advice independent, NOAH warns peers

The National Office of Animal Health has called upon peers to defend the independence of government scientific advisory committees.

Next Tuesday, 12 October, when the House of Lords discusses the Food Standards Bill, peers can reject a proposal to amend the Medicines Act to rule that one member of the Veterinary Products Committee 'shall be appointed by the Ministers on the nomination of the Food Standards Agency' and restore the scientific integrity of that committee.

Independence of scientific committees has traditionally been supported by all political parties, and its importance has also been strongly promoted by consumer and other groups.

But now, sadly, it seems not all parts of Government appear to hold the same view. Roger Cook, NOAH director, said: "Jeff Rooker MP, former Minister of Food, assured MPs in the Commons that 'the FSA will have an effective veto on the regulation of veterinary medicines. A member or placeperson of the agency will be on the Veterinary Products Committee'. But this flies in the face of how VPC members have always been appointed.

"NOAH and many other organisations have, in the past, been invited to put forward names to fill VPC vacancies," he said. "But only the Minister could make the decision on who was appointed - ensuring the independence of the Committee and its members and re-assuring all those who rely on veterinary medicines that the advice given to Ministers was science based, untrammelled by vested interests."

NOAH believes that, in the light of current concerns about the future availability of veterinary medicines, the news that a body yet to be appointed will have, via its "placeperson" an "effective veto" on the approval of new products, is most worrying. "The implications for the future independence of other scientific advisory committees are even more alarming," warned Mr Cook.

7 October 1999

Notes for Editors

1. For further information contact Roger Cook or Alison Glennon at NOAH, tel. +44 (0)20 8367 3131, or visit the NOAH website.

2. 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 36 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.

3. The clause relating to VPC appointments is Schedule 3, par. 8(2) of the Food Standards Bill.

4. Mr Rooker's quotation appears in Hansard col. 1440, 22.7.99

5. The House of Lords Committee considers the Food Standards Bill from 12 October - 14 October.