HC Deb 27 November 1958 vol 596 cc547-8
41. Lieut.-Commander Maydon

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that more than twenty cattle have died at two Somerset farms at Tytherington and Wellow from arsenical sprays; if he will name these sprays and their makers; and if, in view of growing anxiety about the safety of many toxic sprays, both to animal and to human life he will consider instituting research into their composition and use.

Mr. John Hare

Yes. Sir. These arsenical sprays are highly toxic. There are a number of them on the market, and I will, with permission circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of those known to my Ministry. Precautions in their use and in dealing with treated crops have already been recommended by my Ministry on the advice of the Advisory Committee on Poisonous Substances used in Agriculture and Food Storage. The Committee has been asked to review the question of arsenical sprays in the light of all the evidence available.

Lieut.-Commander Maydon

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask him to bear in mind that in both of these cases there is a common feature; the apparent irresistibility of this poisonous substance to cattle? In both cases, the cattle went through fields of kale, and broke down substantial fences in order to eat this poisonous substance.

Mr. Hare

I am very grateful to my hon. and gallant Friend for bringing public attention to what has happened; and to the danger of these sprays. we have issued our own advice, to which as much publicity as possible should be given, and this advice is available to farmers.

Following is the information:

The sodium and potassium arsenite weed-killers and haulm-killers known to my Ministry, and their manufacturers. are:

Acme Arsenical Haulmkiller—Acme Chemical Co. Ltd.

Acme Arsenical Weedkiller—Acme Chemical Co. Ltd.

Arsenical Weedkiller—Lunevale Products Ltd.

Arsenicola—The Standardised Disinfectants Co. Ltd.

Atlas Arsenical Haulmkiller—Atlas Preservative Co. Ltd.

Battle's Arsenical Weedkiller—Battle, Hayward and Bower Ltd.

Bayacide Potato Haulmkiller—Bayer Agriculture Ltd.

Bil Arsenical Weedkiller—Rugge's Insecticides

Dee Foliet—J. D Campbell & Sons Ltd.

Eradiweed—Pan Britannica Industries Ltd.

Eureka Arsenical 1/50 Weedkiller—

Tomlinson and Hayward Ltd.

Eureka Arsenical 1/100 Weedkiller—Tomlinson and Hayward Ltd.

Foliatox—Fisons Pest Control Ltd

Haulmite—Bugge's Insecticides.

Haulm Killer—Vitax Ltd.

Hawmac—Plant Protection Ltd.

Juvare Potato Haulm Destroyer—Chisholm Fox and Garner Ltd.

Potato Haulm Destroyer—British Schering Ltd.

Potato Haulm Destroyer—Murphy Chemical Co. Ltd.

Razetops—Vigzol Oil Co. Ltd.

Shell Potato Haulm Killer—Shell Chemical Co. Ltd.

Sodium Arsenite—Baywood Chemicals Ltd.

Sodium Arsenite—W. J. Craven &Co. Ltd.

Sodium/Potassium Arsenite—E. C. Longmate Ltd.

Sodium/Potassium Arsenite—Universal Crop Protection Ltd.

Weedicide—Plant Protection Ltd

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