Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Hayman of Ullock on 5 February (HL14038), why the potential risks of chronic exposure to users and children is not listed in the Veterinary Medicines Directorate product information database of authorised products.

When conducting a user risk assessment, before a veterinary medicine is authorised, both the hazards and the likely exposures to humans, including the children in a household, are considered. Data from both acute and chronic toxicology studies using animal models are used to identify the possible negative reactions that may be seen in humans if exposed. Several exposure scenarios are considered, including reasonable worst-case scenarios, leading to a conservative estimate of the actual risks to those that may come into contact with a veterinary medicine. A hazard may be identified, but if the exposure to the medicines is likely to be low, then this leads to minimal risk to the person. If risks are identified, they are listed on the product information database, alongside advice on how to minimise those risks. VMD collects data on adverse reactions reported to them and to pharmaceutical companies, once a product is on the market, and can update the risk profile and user warnings where these data indicate a concern.