What action is being taken to curb and investigate the alleged use of unlicensed chemicals on salmon farms to control sea lice.

I view the alleged discharge to the marine environment of chemicals which have not been subject to the assessment procedures of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency with considerable concern. The practice is illegal and may pose considerable risk of damage to marine ecosystems. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has issued warnings to the industry of the dangers to the environment and the likely risk to the industry's reputation should these allegations be substantiated. It has stated its intention to investigate allegations vigorously and instigate enforcement action where clear evidence of a breach of the legislation exists.The Agency has investigated several reports of the use of unlicensed chemicals to date. In 1998, following such investigations, a salmon-farming company in Shetland was fined £1000 at Lerwick Sheriff Court for discharging Deosan Deosect, a compound used to treat horses and poultry. In this case the Agency detected residues in mussels growing nearby and established that the chemical had been supplied to the company by a veterinary surgeon. A number of other investigations are ongoing at present.The Agency has also begun a programme of screening for such residues. This involves its officers visiting fish farm premises unannounced and taking samples of fish from the cages or mussels growing close by for analysis.