This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Use of malachite green to end
11/06/2002
The use of a common fungal treatment in fish farming is
to end following discussions between the UK and the
European Commission.
Fish farmers are co-operating fully with the Government
to stop the use of the product with immediate effect.
Malachite green has been used extensively by the
aquaculture industries in Europe and throughout the world
for many years in the absence of any authorised veterinary
medicine alternative. It has proved particularly effective
at protecting the welfare of farmed fish. The UK Government
has taken scientific advice from independent advisory
committees over the past eight years on the use of this
product to ensure that the interests and health of
consumers are protected. However, there are continuing
concerns about its potential effect on human health.
A veterinary medicine alternative to malachite green
called "Pyceze" has now been developed in the UK with the
assistance of funding from the salmon and trout industries
and DEFRA. The active ingredient of this new product,
"bronopol," was permitted by the EU for use in the
treatment of fish for the first time last year. The
Veterinary Medicines Directorate has granted a provisional
marketing authorisation for Pyceze and they are currently
assessing the suitability of the product for full marketing
authorisation. In the meantime Pyceze is available for the
treatment of fish and their ova under veterinary
prescription.
The European Commission is being kept fully informed of
the arrangements for withdrawing use of malachite green in
the UK. The Commission is also considering the situation in
other member states and in countries exporting farmed fish
into the EU.
European Commission concerns about the continued use of
malachite green in salmon and trout farming in the UK were
raised following a recent inspection by the Commission's
Food and Veterinary Office to evaluate controls on residues
in live animals and live animal products.
Malachite green is not listed as a veterinary medicine
under Annexes I, II or II of Council Regulation 2377/90,
and its administration for that purpose is therefore not
permitted in aquaculture. However, in the absence of any
effective alternative treatment for fungal infections in
fish, its use has continued in the UK on the basis of
surveillance screening to prevent residues likely to prove
harmful to human health in the final product.
Information about the consideration which the
independent advisory Committees (the Committee on Toxicity
of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment
(COT), the Committee on Mutagenicity of Chemicals in Food,
Consumer Product and the Environment (COM), and the Food
Advisory Committee) have given on the use of malachite
green may be obtained from the Food Standards Agency.
Information on the safety of farmed salmon and trout for
human consumption may also be obtained from the Food
Standards Agency (Tel no: 020 7276 8888).
Pyceze is manufactured in the UK by Novartis Animal
Vaccines Limited, 4 Warner Drive, Springwood Industrial
Estate, Rayne Road, Braintree Essex.