Pharmaceutical Consumer Product Labelling in Relation to Animal Safety
The petition of Adrian Paul,
Declares that current pharmaceutical laws do not currently appear to force manufacturers of medicines and medical treatments, in particular creams, to add warnings to their product packaging about their toxicity to pets and other animals; notes that without these warnings pets and animals can be accidentally and unintentionally injured, suffer and die; further declares that the petitioner’s own pet cat suffered greatly, and died with four days, as a result of his application of Bayer's Germolene antiseptic cream to wounds of his cat’s face, further declares that warnings on products should clearly and emphatically state, in sufficiently large capital letters, that their products are “for human use only” and “Warning: this product is toxic to pets and animals.”
The Petitioner therefore requests that the House of Commons urge the Government to urgently introduce legislation that forces UK pharmaceutical companies, as well as those who import medicinal products to the UK, to clearly label any products which are toxic to pets and animals, with special regard to products which can lead to the death of pets and animals.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Official Report, 21 February 2023; Vol. 728, c. 1P.]
[P002803]
Observations from the Minister for Health and Secondary Care (Will Quince):
The labelling of licensed medicines in the UK must comply with the requirements set out in schedules 24 and 25 of the Human Medicines Regulations (2012). The control of medicines for animals and humans follows the principle that positive statements are made where use is for animals only. Human Medicines by default are clearly labelled with human dosage instructions only and a warning to indicate that the medicine is for human use only or that it may be toxic if used in animals is not required. If there is room on the labelling once the statutory information has been accommodated, there is scope to include extra-statutory text, provided this meets the relevant criteria. Any additional information included on labelling of Human Medicines must be consistent with the Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) for the medicine in question, useful to the patient and non-promotional.
Home Department
Policing and drug and alcohol treatment in Hull
The petition of residents of the constituency of Kingston Upon Hull,
Declares that they consider that levels of anti-social behaviour in the constituency are growing at a rapid rate.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to consider reallocating funding for both the Police and drug and alcohol treatment in Kingston Upon Hull to restore it to 2010 levels in order to reduce anti-social behaviour.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Dame Diana Johnson, Official Report, 27 March 2023; Vol. 730, c. 801.]
[P002818]
Observations from the Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire (Chris Philp):
The Government are committed to tackling and preventing antisocial behaviour (ASB). The Government know the serious impact that persistent ASB can have on both individuals and the wider community.
Transport
Pedestrian safety at the junction of A4 Jersey Road
20 of 33 shown
On 27 March the Government published the ASB Action Plan. The ASB Action Plan commits to tackling ASB across five key themes: stronger punishment, making communities safer, building local pride, prevention and early intervention, improving data, reporting and accountability for action. Cracking down on antisocial behaviour works in tandem with this Government’s priorities to prevent more murders, drive down violent crime, including against women and girls, and burglaries.
This plan is backed by £160 million of funding. This includes up to £60 million to fund an increased police and other uniformed presence to clamp down on antisocial behaviour, targeting hotspots. Initially this will be in 10 police force areas, but from 2024 will support a hotspot approach across every police force area in England and Wales, which will see thousands of additional patrols taking place in places blighted by antisocial behaviour. The Government are delivering £10 million of additional funding in 2023-24 for 10 Police and Crime Commissioners to establish new Immediate Justice pathways aimed at delivering swift, visible punishment for anti-social behaviour. This will be rolled out to all police force areas in 2024-25.
Through legislation, the Government are bringing in a number of changes to tackle drug misuse. Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas) will be banned under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Police powers will be extended to enable them to drug test suspected criminals in police custody for a wider range of drugs, including ecstasy and methamphetamine. It will be easier to test in cases linked to crimes like violence against women and girls, serious violence, and antisocial behaviour.
The Government are also consulting on key ASB powers to ensure they are as effective as possible and will prohibit begging where it is causing a public nuisance.