Volume 7: Medicines and Cosmetics
3. Initial response on veterinary medicines
Conclusions on MAFF's initial response

3.40 Before doing so, we discuss the action on veterinary medicines taken by MAFF up to that date. In our view, its response on this throughout that period was timely and appropriate. We consider that it was reasonable not to take positive action until November 1987, by which time some 120 cases of BSE had been reported, ¹ and that the commissioning of a paper was an appropriate next step. Before that date, information was scanty. Mr Luff's paper brought together many of the matters and issues that were to provide a foundation for later guidance. The BC considered Mr Luff's paper in January and February, and agreed to keep the matter under review for the time being. Again, given what was known at the time, we consider that to have been a reasonable and proportionate response.

3.41 By June 1988, it was clear that the epidemic was worsening, and at this stage MAFF stepped up its response on veterinary medicines, with the preparation of an action plan and allocation of specific tasks to different groups. The initial guidelines were promptly drafted and a series of discussions about them with industry initiated. The implications of BSE for parallel action on hormone products were also recognised and addressed.

3.42 All in all, we think this amounted to a considered and orderly approach to the problem. MAFF was able to proceed with such an approach in part because of its early knowledge of the problem and the close workings between those handling medicines licensing and their CVL colleagues.

3.43 We note, however, that MAFF action focused entirely on veterinary medicines. Mr Luff's paper in 1987 had contained information that might have been of considerable interest to Medicines Division officials. It touched on a number of issues that were later to be addressed in connection with human medicines. We return in later chapters to the effects of the very limited communication about BSE that was taking place at this stage between the medicines licensing officials in the two Departments.