Volume 14: Responsibilities for Human and Animal Health
7. Human and veterinary medicines and cosmetics
Introduction

7.1 Many medicines, medical devices and cosmetics are produced using material from, or derived from, animals, including bovines. Volume 7: Medicines and Cosmetics, explains why these products were significant in the BSE story.

7.2 This chapter describes the responsibilities and systems, both statutory and non-statutory, for controlling medicines, medical devices and cosmetics, and the workings of these in practice in the period leading up to the emergence of BSE. This was the context in which policy makers had to consider the possible impact of BSE and what action, if any, to take.

7.3 The legislative framework differentiated between 'medicinal products' and 'medical devices' and these are dealt with separately in this chapter.