BRITISH DRUGS

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 103, 28 October 1933, Page 15

BRITISH DRUGS

PROTECTION SOUGHT

Protection for British anaesthetics and supplies of certain drugs in ampoule packing,' bacteriological and animal gland supplies, was sought before the Tariff Commission yesterday afternoon by Mr. G. B. Davis, representing the Dominion Dental Supplies Co. At one time, said Mr. Davis, the German product . had undersold' the British, but gradually the British productions had improved in quality and decreased, in price. At one time British ether could not be produced except at doublo the price of tho German, but now that Ib© British had caught up their leeway, tho Germans had brought their prices down still further, and complications had arisen. Professor Murphy: It seems to me that drugs and medjeal appliances, in the interests of the v°°pl°> should be above the usual commercial usages.. They should be of international benefit. Mr. Davis: That is not the position, however. Professor Murphy: Then it should be. Mr. Davis said that at one time it might have beou so, but followiug a time when England had been producing dnigs"aS good as, Gif evorr better iitsome eases,, than those. ,of -other countries, at a lower price, dor efforts were worthy of stippoit. "*-'•' ' IJ-' '"' Mr. Davis presented n bchcdule of alterations which asked that all British goods should enter fiee, and imposed varying duties (a maximum of 45 per cent, ad valorem) on foreign goods. The duty suggested on ether and chloroform was 2s per lb. Questioned by Dr. Craig, Mr. Davis said that the total suggested duty on chloroform and ether Avould be about SO per cent. PiofOh'or Murphy: You are asking a Jot. The unfoituuatc people who aro going to need the use of ether aud chlorofoim will hnve to pay. Mr. Duvis: We are not doing; it because ■tv-e like it. Wo are being foieed. Mr; J.,8. Gow: Did tho foreigner hold the market at one time! —Yes. : "Professor'-.Mu'rpHy:" Yoxl are aware that flic- »BrJd's; ;t price/ levels have "d»opp^'«r>9si4Srßb^tTrT«!B.' '."..'•'." . Dr. Craig: So the same conditions apply to,other tradfes^lfo, sir. The witness proceeded ta explain how the ,ampoule' packing of certain drugs doubled the cost." It was a much superior :hti3 safer method of pacKing, thft ampoule.S'COnta'ining the exact dose, and preventing danger. - England hadiieon Stidcessfu'l aisd'w'ith animal gISMS arid b'actferiblSgical supplies, , , Foreign firing had formerly supplied *£Ko-" bulk or! manufactures,; because EfitflisK siijjjrl&sWe'ri; not Availably had altered since the yr^Tj and a fall r'ignge yr&a how bbtfiiilatlie. Ironi Greai Britiiliii; Mr. Davis asked if it #ere pe'gsjijld to bring up ..the qnestion of all supplies beihg: compulsorily marked with' the country-of origin, but-was told that that was a matter for the Minister of In-' dustries.-and Commerce, not for -the Tariff Commissiou. The point had-been raised several times'in connection with Eastern products.