OP dips should be back in late autumn says NOAH
The National Office of Animal Health has welcomed the MAFF announcement on organophosphate sheep dips, which paves the way to getting
these important products back onto the market.
Following the meeting with MAFF
Minister of State Baroness Hayman on 16 August, a NOAH spokesman said: "We are
pleased that Government has recognised the major benefit of OP
dips to sheep welfare, and the need for farmers to have the widest range of products from
which to choose.
"The Veterinary
Products Committee recommendations which led to the MAFF announcement reflect
ideas from manufacturers, animal health merchants, farmers and veterinary surgeons
discussed with the Minister at a meeting in February.
"However, there are a number of essential practical and legal
steps which have to be gone through before the suspension of the products can be lifted,
to ensure they match VPC
recommendations. It is unlikely that these procedures can be completed in less than 12
weeks, which means that, starting in mid August, product is unlikely to be on farm until
late autumn.
"Manufacturers and government need to work through these steps
together as efficiently as possible, so OP dips can get
back out onto farms, protecting and treating sheep," said NOAH.
17 August 2000
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.
NOAH's The association has 34 corporate members
and 12 associate members. In 1999 NOAH's
members accounted for around 95% of the £366 million UK animal health market, with
additional valuable exports.
- The MAFF announcement on OP dips was given in MAFF press release 289/00
of 15 August, available on request.
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