HL Deb 25 April 1989 vol 506 cc1149-50

2.47 p.m.

Lord Hatch of Lusby asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will consider legislation to compel retailers to tell customers which pesticides have been used on the fruit and vegetables on sale.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Baroness Trumpington)

My Lords, we are currently considering a European Commission proposal which would require post-harvest pesticide treatments to be indicated in wholesale and retail trade.

Lord Hatch of Lusby

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for that encouraging Answer. As she says, the European Community has made these proposals and I believe that in France and Germany they are already implemented. Is she aware that the chemical alar, which is used on apples, is being banned in the United States? The United States Environmental Protection Agency has said that there is an, inescapable and direct correlation between its use and the development of life-threatening tumours". In the light of that expert opinion, will the noble Baroness include in her consideration the banning of alar in this country?

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, this matter has been referred to our independent committee of experts, the Advisory Committee on Pesticides, which is considering the results of current studies. I should remind the noble Lord that the United States Surgeon General said in a statement that it was perfectly safe to eat apples.

Baroness Sharples

My Lords, does my noble friend agree that one should always wash vegetables and hard fruits before eating them?

Baroness Trumpington

Yes, my Lords, and one's hands.

Lord Graham of Edmonton

My Lords, will the Minister confirm that research into pesticide residues on fruit and vegetables will be regarded as research for the public good and will therefore be publicly funded and not be considered as near market research, to be funded by industry? Will the Minister confirm that research work on pesticide residues on fruit and vegetables, which is presently carried out at experimental horticultural stations that are due for closure, will be transferred to other research stations and continued?

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, if the work that is being carried out on pesticide residues comes under the heading of public good, we shall make every effort to transfer it to another site.

Lord Cornwallis

My Lords, can the Minister tell me what steps the Government are taking to protect consumers overall from high pesticide residues?

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, before a pesticide is approved it is carefully examined. Approval would not be given unless any residue was considered to be safe. Pesticides may only be used in accordance with approved label instructions. Maximum residue limits have been set for a wide range of commodities and pesticides in the pesticides maximum residue limits regulations 1988. We have a monitoring programme which examines pesticide residues in a wide range of home produced and imported foods. The findings of that programme are published.

Lord Hatch of Lusby

My Lords, is it not the case that a large number of the chain retail stores have already collected information on the effects of various pesticides, and they refuse to give that information to the public? I also wish to ask the Minister about another pesticide, Tecnazene, which is used on potatoes. Will the Minister tell us why the Government have dropped their original proposals to set limits for Tecnazene, the use of which in this country has been shown to be well above international limits?

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, the Advisory Committee on Pesticides is reviewing the residue data for Tecnazene as used on potatoes. I hope to have advice soon as regards maximum recommended limits appropriate to UK conditions.