Pesticides

HC Deb 04 December 1986 vol 106 cc1070-1

8. Sir John Wells

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action is being taken to control the supply and use of pesticides.

Mr. Donald Thompson

Powers to control the supply and use of pesticides are contained in part III of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 and were implemented in the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986, which came into force on 6 October.

Sir John Wells

Is my hon. Friend aware that there is great anxiety about the pesticide temir, or dinoseb, or whatever it is called, and that it has been withdrawn already in the United States? Will he update the House on what he intends to do in future about this product?

Mr. Thompson

I know of my hon. Friend's great interest in this matter because of his constituency interest in ICI and his own professional background. Today the Government have suspended all approvals that authorise the sale, supply and use of dinoseb, dinoseb acetate, dinoseb amine binapacryl and dinoterb, pending a full review by the Advisory Committee on Pesticides.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

Does my hon. Friend agree that it is one thing to make regulations on pesticides to protect the public and the countryside, but quite another to make them effective? What is he doing to advise the public and farmers on the use of pesticides so that the excellent new regulations can work?

An Hon. Member

Nothing.

Mr. Thompson

"Nothing" is not the right answer. There are 72 Ministry officers, the Health and Safety Commission, local authority officers and contractors in the trade to whom we are supplying information all the time. That information is constantly updated. With that army, we should be able to monitor the pesticide regulations.

Mr. D. N. Campbell-Savours

I welcome the Government's decision, in relation to the recommendations, to reconsider the distribution of those pesticide products. Would it not be better, whenever concern is expressed abroad which leads to the withdrawal of pesticides from distribution, if that automatically triggered a re-examination of the distribution of those products on the British market?

Mr. Thompson

That is what happens. I was asked a question on this subject on 7 November last, and I can give the House a more detailed answer. The scientific sub-committee, acting on the basis that the hon. Gentleman mentioned, considered data provided by companies supplying dinoseb products, and, as a result of its recommendation, and with the agreement of the chairman and other members of the ACP, we have introduced the ban today as a matter of urgency.

Sir John Farr

What further progress has my hon. Friend made in analysing the Union Carbide chemical, aldecarb? In a reply a fortnight ago he said that he was conducting experiments into whether it should be allowed to be sold in this country, in view of the fact that, in parallel tests that have been conducted abroad, it has been found to destroy, or certainly damage, the immune system.

Mr. Thompson

We are carrying out those tests with the same urgency as we carried out those on dinoseb. I shall advise the House or write to my right hon. Friend as soon as those tests have been completed.

Mr. Home Robertson

I welcome the Government's decision to act on and control the availability of dinoseb in the light of new evidence. Dinoseb has been on the market for a long time. That must raise serious questions not only about this chemical but about others, such as 2,4,5-T and aldicarb. Has the time not come for a further review of the procedures for clearing agricultural chemicals?

Mr. Thompson

We are constantly reviewing, as I have already said twice today. This particular chemical is not dangerous to the consumer; it is dangerous to the person who applies it. We have taken this swift action because of the possible effects on female operatives. As the hon. Gentleman will know, the number of women engaged in farming and horticulture is growing, and is welcome.