Organo-phosphate Sheep Dip: Safety (Hansard, 16 December 1992)

The Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Earl Howe)
My Lords, the instructions on product labels for the use of organo-phosphate sheep dips are controlled through the licences issued under the Medicines Act. The independent Veterinary Products Committee has since 1972 periodically reviewed the question of sheep dip labels. Whenever necessary, it has recommended revisions in the light of scientific knowledge. At its November meeting the Veterinary Products Committee recommended that a check be carried out to ensure that a consistent approach was being taken by manufacturers on labelling. That recommendation is now being followed up by the licensing authority.

§ The Countess of Mar
My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Earl for that helpful Answer. But can he explain why sheep dip, which comes with two containers, one with disinfectant and one with sheep dip itself, has on the disinfectant label a skull and crossbones and a warning that it is poisonous and corrosive, whereas on the sheep dip label, although the manufacturers acknowledge that it is harmful and poisonous to humans, there is no skull and crossbones? Also, the instructions are written in uniform print, with no clear outstanding warning to users.

Earl Howe
My Lords, disinfectants are subject to different labelling arrangements from veterinary medicines. However, hazard warnings are shown on some licensed sheep dip products. The check on labelling requested by the independent Veterinary Products Committee in November covers the inclusion of hazard warnings on all sheep dip products.

§ Baroness Strange
My Lords, can the Minister say what kind of sheep dips were employed before 1962 and what kind were employed on the sheep in Bethlehem over 2,000 years ago?

Earl Howe
My Lords, I am not aware of the precise chemical formulation in either of the periods mentioned by my noble friend.

Noble Lords
Disgraceful. Incompetent.

Earl Howe
My Lords, I understand that sheep dips containing organo-chloride compounds were quite common some years ago. Those have been phased out and organo-phosphates are now predominant in the formulation.

Lord Winstanley
My Lords, irrespective of the wearing of protective clothing, is the Minister aware 554 that there have already been sufficient cases of dermatitis and related conditions arising from contact with sheep dip to justify those conditions being registered as an industrial disease?

Earl Howe
My Lords, the noble Lord is quite right in what he says. Sheep dip flu is a recognised condition arising from contact with organo-phosphate compounds. Advice on the protective clothing to be worn is given on the product label and the associated data sheet. General information is also available in a free leaflet from the Health and Safety Executive on protecting one's health. The key point is that the leaflet distinguishes the concentrated formula from the diluted liquid. It is very important to follow the instructions distinguishing the two.

§ Lord Carter
My Lords, is the Minister aware that in January of this year the Veterinary Products Committee stated that there was no clear evidence that sheep dips caused an unacceptable level of health risk when used properly? Can he explain why now, less than 12 months after that statement, sheep dips which contain phenols are to be withdrawn? Does that withdrawal apply to all dips which contain phenols or are there some still to be left on the market?

Earl Howe
My Lords, as part of the review of licensed products, companies have been asked to provide additional data on product formulations, including solvents and other chemicals present, as well as on the active ingredients. In the case of phenols, the companies concerned concluded that the cost of generating the required data is uneconomic. They therefore decided either to withdraw the products or to remove phenols from the formulation. I understand that that is a decision across the full spectrum of products.

§ Lord Carter
My Lords, is the Minister saying that the withdrawal is not because of a health risk but due only to the inconvenience of collecting the data?

Earl Howe
Yes, my Lords, the decision to withdraw phenols is an entirely commercial one taken by the companies involved. Details of the implementation of those commercial strategies are of course a matter for the companies concerned.

§ Lord Zuckerman
My Lords, before regulations were brought in in 1962 for the wearing of protective clothing when organo-phosphorous compounds were used in dips and for other purposes, is the Minister aware that there had been several fatalities? I was in fact chairman of a committee of inquiry set up to look into the matter before any regulations were introduced. Can he tell us whether there have been any other fatalities since regulations were introduced dealing with the use of organo-phosphorous compounds?

Earl Howe
My Lords, I am not aware of any fatalities. But the Government take these issues extremely seriously. It is important that anyone who suspects an adverse reaction to sheep dip should report it immediately to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate. We can only make decisions that are 555 based on hard scientific evidence. The Government are trying to establish the scientific facts. If ultimately we find that the products are unsafe licences will be withdrawn.

Earl Baldwin of Bewdley
My Lords, does the Minister agree that it would be a good thing if the attention of GPs was drawn once again to the dangers of organo-phosphate in sheep dip? Does he further agree that in their initial training doctors should receive proper instruction in environmental medicine?

Earl Howe
My Lords, I said in an answer that I gave to the noble Countess the other day that steps have been taken to advise GPs of the issues involved and of the symptoms which occur with organophosphate poisoning. I take note of the noble Earl's comments.

§ The Countess of Mar
My Lords, does the noble Earl agree that there is a connection between the action of phenols on rubber and the porousness which they create? The particular data sheet which I have states that manufacturers recommend that rubber clothing is worn throughout. Can the Minister make sure that manufacturers recommend something other than rubber as protective clothing?

Earl Howe
My Lords, the type of clothing to be worn when handling these products is a matter for the manufacturers. Phenols are effective solvents and on their own they are capable of attacking rubber. However, when diluted with water they behave very differently and that action does not occur. There is no evidence that protective clothing is damaged by phenols in sheep dips when used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

§ Lord Barnett
My Lords, can the Minister tell us whether the protective clothing in question is subject to the new subsidiarity ruling or whether we can decide for ourselves?

Earl Howe
My Lords, it is subject to the subsidiarity rule to this extent: it is up to every farmer to judge the conditions that pertain when dipping his or her sheep and to take measures accordingly.

Noble Lords
Good answer.