CONTROVERSY AT COMPETITION COMMISSION'S VETS PUBLIC MEETING

The Competition Commission today held a public meeting in London as part of its ongoing inquiry into the supply of veterinary medicines.

The meeting was well attended by representatives from the pharmaceutical companies, wholesalers, veterinary surgeons, farmers and members of the pet owning public. Chaired by inquiry chairman, Denise Kingsmill, the energetic debate was simultaneously broadcast live on the internet. Responses from the public watching the webcast were fed into the proceedings.

Mrs Kingsmill said:

"We were concerned at the silence from the pharmaceutical companies. We recognise that they perhaps don't want to talk in detail about pricing. But we would have expected to have their views about some of the issues such as the classifications of veterinary medicines. However we will be pressing them in the private hearings so perhaps they’ll be a bit more forth coming then.

We had significant involvement from the general public. The pet owners have really rallied to this particular investigation. The farmers’ representatives were also robust in their criticisms of the current supply chain and we will be following up on many of their comments. The pharmacists are keen to compete with veterinary surgeries in dispensing veterinary medicines and there were vigorous interchanges between them and the vets.

We will now be going into private hearings with many of the groups to interrogate them in depth about some of the issues raised today."

Notes to Editors

The reference was made by John Vickers, Director General of Fair Trading, under sections 10(3), 10(4), 47(1), 49(1) and 50(1) of the Fair Trading Act 1973 on 9 October 2001 (see OFT Press Notice 41/01).
The public meeting was in addition to the Commission’s normal procedures for carrying out its investigations, which include collecting evidence in writing and holding private hearings with individual parties.
Attached is a list of companies, organisations and individuals that attended the meeting.
The webcast is available to view at: www.rawcoms.com/content/corporate/competition/020426/index.html. A transcript of the entire proceedings will be available within the next week on the Commission’s website.
Denise Kingsmill, a Deputy Chairman of the Commission, is heading the inquiry. The other members of the group are Graham Hadley, Professor Alan Hamlin, Charles Henderson and Tim Richmond.
Further information can be obtained from the Commission website at www.competition-commission.org.uk/inquiries/vetmed.htm
Enquiries should be directed to: Francis Royle, Press Officer Tel: 020 7271 0242