17August 2000

OP dips should be back in late autumn says NOAH

TheNational Office of Animal Health has welcomed the MAFF announcement onorganophosphate sheep dips, which paves the way to getting these importantproducts back onto the market.

Followingthe meeting with MAFF Minister of State Baroness Hayman on 16 August, a NOAHspokesman said: We are pleased that Government has recognised the majorbenefit of OP dips to sheep welfare, and the need for farmers to have thewidest range of products from which to choose.

TheVeterinary Products Committee recommendations which led to the MAFFannouncement reflect ideas from manufacturers, animal health merchants, farmersand 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 gonethrough before the suspension of the products can be lifted, to ensure theymatch VPC recommendations. It isunlikely that these procedures can be completed in less than 12 weeks, whichmeans that, starting in mid August, product is unlikely to be on farm untillate autumn.

Manufacturersand government need to work through these steps together as efficiently aspossible, so OP dips can get back out onto farms, protecting and treatingsheep, said NOAH.

**Ends**

Notes for Editors

1. Forfurther information please contact Roger Cook or Alison Glennon, 020 8367 3131.

2. TheNational Office of Animal Health was formed on 1 January 1986 to represent theUK companies which research, develop, manufacture and market licensed animalhealth products. The association has 34 corporate members and 12 associatemembers. In 1999 NOAH's members accounted for around 95% of the 366 million UKanimal health market, with additional valuable exports.

3. TheMAFF announcement on OP dips was given in MAFF press release 289/00 of 15August, available on request.