asked the Minister for Health if he proposes to introduce special legislation to govern medicines with a view to ensuring that all medicines including those for veterinary use should satisfy the most stringent standards of safety and quality; and, if so, when he proposes to introduce it.

I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 13 on 30th November, 1972.

It is proposed that human and veterinary medicines will come within the scope of the legislation referred to in that reply.

The controls on veterinary medicines would, however, be primarily a matter for the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries and I understand that he proposes to introduce shortly a scheme of voluntary controls on veterinary medicines, pending the enactment of the legislation.