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

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress is being made in developing better vaccines for foot and mouth disease.

There are three vaccines authorised for use in the UK for foot and mouth disease (FMD).

The UK Marketing Authorisation Holder (Merial Animal Health Ltd) is a leading developer of FMD vaccines and a major supplier worldwide.

The decision on whether to develop and market a new product is a commercial one for those pharmaceutical companies wishing to invest the necessary capital. Applications for new products are assessed by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate to ensure their safety, quality and efficacy prior to them being authorised.