Home What's New Speeches & Articles Newsletter - Jul 2008 Biography Diary Contact Information Photo Album Parliamentary Highlights Publications Links MEPs' Transparency   Conservative Party Latest News from Conservatives.com Conservative Party Website
		Victory for future of veterinary medicines Friday, 25 October 2002 East Midlands MEP Roger Helmer is delighted with the outcome of the vote in the European Parliament this week, which voted to keep the current regime of respecting member state practice, rather than opting for the Commission's proposal to have all medicines prescription only. All political groups in the European Parliament voted overwhelmingly in favour of amendments tabled by Avril Doyle, MEP for Leinster, to the Directive on the Community Code relating to veterinary medicinal products. Mrs. Avril Doyle, tabled amendments on issues relating to the cascade, veterinary prescriptions, the advertising of veterinary medicinal products as well as specific amendments offering solutions to the long-outstanding problem of medicine availability for horses. The European Parliament accepted that vets may, under their own responsibility, use the 'Cascade' system when no authorised product is available. The cascade system is a set of rules determining the order of choice of medicines available to a vet when treating an animals or disease in the absence of a specific product. The European Parliament also accepted amendments that should bring a definitive and coherent solution to the long out-standing problem of a shortage of medicinal products used to treat horses. Products containing substances without maximum residual limits could now also be placed on the market for horses, thereby increasing dramatically the number of products available for horses. Speaking on the outcome of the vote Euro-MP Roger Helmer said: "I am delighted with the outcome of the vote this week on the prescription only medicines, which will be a big relief for farmers and those in the equine industry, and would like to commend Avril Doyle for the good work she has done".