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.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

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.

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 (HL14039), (1) when the regulatory review of the AVM‑GSL status of products containing fipronil and imidacloprid will be completed, and (2) whether input from vets and scientists external to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate will be consulted and contribute to the review.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is undertaking a review of the AVM‑GSL status of veterinary medicines containing fipronil and imidacloprid, and further details on the review will be published in the coming weeks. A completion date cannot yet be provided as this is dependent on finalising the process and associated milestones.

The review will include a consultative process, drawing on evidence and input from all stakeholders. All decisions will be based on robust scientific assessment, with animal health and welfare remaining paramount throughout the review.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to resolve the recent technical issues of the Inshore Vessel Monitoring Systems (I-VMS) on English fishing vessels under 12 metres; how many, and what percentage, of relevant vessels are impacted by the technical issue; and when they plan to lay the statutory instrument to formalise the I-VMS requirement for all under-12 metre vessels in English waters.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) continues to work with Succorfish to resolve the issue of suspended data transmissions to the UK VMS Hub. Data continues to be transmitted from Fulcrum devices. Defra expects to lay the SI once this service issue has been resolved. In the meantime, the MMO continues to take a pragmatic approach to enforcing the existing licence condition, and all fishers who have purchased and installed an MMO type-approved IVMS device should continue to fish as normal. Defra is currently unable to disclose the number of vessels impacted by the service issue due to commercially sensitivity.

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 (HL14037), whether the work being carried out by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate and the Pharmaceuticals in the Environment group will result in the meeting of the requirement of the Water Frameworks Directive for good ecological and chemical status by 2027.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government continues to work towards our obligation to restore water bodies to good ecological status and remains committed to securing continuous improvement for the water environment.

The Government has committed in the White Paper to exploring setting new ambitious overarching targets for the water environment. This would enable consistent national oversight and alignment between government, regional water planning, regulators, the water industry and the private sector to better deliver agreed outcomes while maintaining environmental standards.

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate continues to contribute to its commitments under the Pharmaceuticals in the Environment Roadmap, evidence‑gathering, stakeholder engagement and regulatory review activity relating to fipronil and imidacloprid.

Found: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town Interests as set out in the Register of Lords’ Interests Lord Teverson

Found: Q155 Lord Teverson: Minister, you are the Minister for Small Business.