READ THE OPERATOR PRECAUTIONS AND ENVIRONMENT WARNINGS. The prescribing veterinary surgeon must ensure that farm staff have received adequate instruction in safe use of Salmosan.

Salmosan should be applied to salmon suffering from infestation with mature (pre-adult to adult) sea lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) or (Caligus species) before the stage at which serious skin damage is evident. The exact timing of a treatment and setting up of a treatment programme is a matter of expertise and judgment; operators must seek the advice of the prescribing veterinary surgeon.

Salmosan does not affect juvenile attached sea lice which will be present with the pre-adult and adult stages. These juvenile stages will develop into pre-adults and adults in 10 to 20 days, when a population count should show whether a second treatment is necessary. A third treatment may be necessary after another 14 days, after which fish should be lice free for considerable periods, if all the fish on the site have been simultaneously treated.

Fish affected by lice should be bathed in 0.2 ppm Salmosan (0.1 ppm azamethiphos) for a period of not less than 30 minutes and not more than 60 minutes. At water temperatures above 10°C it is advisable to limit treatment periods to 30 minutes. Assess water volume as accurately as possible. To achieve a final concentration of 0.1ppm azamethiphos, 0.2g of Salmosan powder must be added per cubic metre of water, i.e., 1 x 20g sachet treats 100 cubic metres.

During treatment, careful observation of fish behaviour must be maintained. If signs of distress, e.g. fish falling on their side, occur after 30 minutes of treatment, remove tarpaulin and ensure vigorous oxygenation of the water. Oxygenation must be provided during treatment. Vigorous oxygenation is recommended in the treatment cage. Where several cages are to be treated a large reservoir of oxygen bottles should be available.

On dry land, not more than 48 hours prior to treatment, operators wearing suitable equipment and protective clothing (see Operator precautions) should place the required number of water soluble bags of Salmosan required for the dosage of an individual cage into a labelled screw-topped polyethylene container, together with a quantity of distilled water (1 litre or more of distilled water for every 200 g of Salmosan).

Screw the lid tightly onto the container and gently shake this initial dilution for up to 5 minutes.

When fish are ready to be treated, the diluted suspension of Salmosan should be further diluted into approximately 200 litres of sea water and gently stirred for 5 minutes. The polyethylene container, in which the first dilution was prepared, should be rinsed with sea water and the rinsing from this should be added to the next dilution. This latter mixture should then be immediately and carefully added to the cage by pouring or pumping the mixture into the water at the oxygen diffuser points using The Bath Technique.

In this technique, the depth of the fish cage net is reduced to a known depth at the centre, e.g. 2 metres, and a tarpaulin placed around the net so that it is totally enclosed. Ensure the base of the cage is not drooping when in the raised position as fish may congregate and come to harm. Oxygen is immediately bled into the system and Salmosan is added. After 30 to 60 minutes the tarpaulin is removed.

24 hours.

MAY CAUSE SENSITISATION BY INHALATION AND SKIN CONTACT.

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulation 1994 (COSHH) applies to the use of this product at work.

Salmosan contains azamethiphos. Azamethiphos is an organophosphorus compound. DO NOT USE if under medical advice not to work with such compounds.

WEAR SUITABLE PROTECTIVE CLOTHING (WATERPROOF COVERALLS), SUITABLE PROTECTIVE GLOVES (heavy duty gauntlet style nitrile at least 300 mm in length and 0.5 mm thick are recommended) AND FACE PROTECTION (FACE SHIELD) when handling the concentrate (i.e. mixing of transferring product from one container to another) and when applying the diluted chemical to the pen. Renew protective clothing and gloves regularly and certainly when cracking or damage has occurred. Initial dilution of the water soluble bags into small volume of distilled water must be carried out on land, ensure that the drum container is securely closed during this process.

RINSE APPLICATION EQUIPMENT AND CONTAINERS AFTER USE.

WASH ALL PROTECTIVE CLOTHING thoroughly after use, especially the insides of gloves.

REMOVE HEAVILY CONTAMINATED CLOTHING IMMEDIATELY, wash or destroy.

DO NOT EAT, DRINK OR SMOKE without first withdrawing from the work area, removing protective clothing and washing hands, face and exposed skin.

AVOID ALL CONTACT BY MOUTH, WITH THE SKIN OR EYES.

ACCIDENTAL SPLASHES ON EXPOSED SKIN OR EYES should be washed off immediately with plenty of water.

WASH HANDS, FACE AND EXPOSED SKIN after leaving the work area.

KEEP AWAY FROM FOOD, DRINK AND ANIMAL FEEDINGSTUFFS.

KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.

FOR ANIMAL TREATMENT ONLY.

If you have breathing problems or if you have felt persistently unwell after using a product containing an organophosphorus compound you should consult your doctor before working with this product.

IN CASE OF HEAVY CONTAMINATION OR IF YOU FEEL UNWELL, seek medical advice immediately. Tell the doctor you have been using Salmosan which contains azamethiphos, an organophosphorus compound.

The symptoms of mild poisoning from organophosphorus compounds are a feeling of exhaustion and weakness which may be accompanied by cramp-like abdominal pains, diarrhoea, excessive sweating, constricted pupils and salivation up to 24 hours after exposure. Severe poisoning can cause general muscle twitching and convulsions.

Doctors can obtain advice on clinical management from National Poisons Information Service centres.

Illness suspected to be the result of working with Salmosan may be reportable under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985. If in doubt contact your local Health and Safety Executive Officer.

Report human or veterinary suspected adverse reactions to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB.

Novartis Animal Vaccines Ltd., Springwood Industrial Estate, Braintree, Essex, CM7 2YW Tel: 01376 551222.

Salmosan is dangerous to many organisms. The fastest and therefore most important detoxification mechanism in coastal waters is dilution which is increased by water movements, including the flushing effect in sea lochs.

Do not use Salmosan prophylactically. Only use when infestation with adult lice has been diagnosed.

Salmosan is dangerous to fish and other aquatic organisms in the concentrated form. Do not contaminate ponds, streams, lochs, or inlets with product or used packaging.

Do not re-use packaging for any purpose.

Salmosan is a Prescription Only Medicine under the Medicines Act (1968). Use of this product at certain sites with lower water movements may be restricted or prohibited. The user must therefore apply for and obtain a discharge consent at each individual site from the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, (. Environment Agency in England and Wales; Environmental Division of the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland), prior to the use of this product.