asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the motto of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate "Assuring the Safety, Quality and Efficacy of Veterinary Medicines" is consistent with the performance of that organisation in establishing the safety, quality and effectiveness of CS Disinfectant as an additive to the organophosphate sheep dip Top Clip Gold Shield before the disinfectant was withdrawn by the manufacturers. [HL817]

All veterinary medicinal products must satisfy the criteria of safety, quality and efficacy established by the Medicines Act 1968 and which are now central to the authorisation procedure laid down in Directive 81/851/EEC. This product, which had a licence of right, was included in the review of sheep dip licences in 1992 and CS Disinfectant was voluntarily removed from the product, in common with phenolic compounds in other sheep dips.