Sheep Dip: Research into Effects (Hansard, 26 November 1992)

The Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Earl Howe)
My Lords, the companies who market organo-phosphorus sheep dips have been asked to carry out detailed research into the effects of these products. In addition, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate is funding work by the National Poisons Unit to follow up its recent report on cases of sheep dip exposure. Similarly, the Health and Safety Executive, as well as a number of academic groups, is carrying out research into the possible chronic effects arising from occupational use.

§ The Countess of Mar
My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Earl for that full Answer. Does he accept that a significant number of people associated with sheep dipping or handling sheep after they have been dipped, including myself, have been suffering from a bewildering and weird number of complaints over the past years? We have been able to obtain no diagnosis from a GP and are rapidly coming to the conclusion that it is sheep dip that is poisoning us. Does the noble Earl appreciate also that since the 1960s scientists have suspected that organo-phosphates have long-term effects upon the human central nervous system? Can he say what advice he is giving to sheep handlers and GPs with regard to looking out for the symptoms and caring for patients afterwards?

Earl Howe
My Lords, naturally I sympathise with the noble Countess in her misfortune. In April 1991 the Chief Medical Officer wrote to all medical practitioners in Great Britain alerting them to the issues and to the need to report details of incidents involving veterinary medicines to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate. Additionally, the October 1991 edition of Current Problems, a bulletin circulated to all GPs, included details of symptoms associated with organo-phosphorus poisoning. We are considering what further action is required.

§ The Earl of Shrewsbury
My Lords, is my noble friend aware of a recent learned paper from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne which states that acute organo-phosphate poisoning is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the developing 1048 world and that epidemics of poisoning have occurred? Will the Government urgently review the situation with a view to the withdrawal of this highly toxic substance from the agri-chemicals market?

Earl Howe
My Lords, I am not aware of that particular report. However, it is recognised that the inhalation of fumes from concentrated sheep dip should be avoided. That is stated on product labels. When sheep dips are diluted and used in accordance with manufacturers' instructions, and taking account of COSHH requirements, there is no evidence to indicate that inhalation would pose a significant risk.

§ Lord Carter
My Lords, in this new era of open government can the Minister inform the House why his department refused a MAFF consumer panel access to the original data for the licence application for sheep dip; the survey of its use, which was conducted by the Health and Safety Executive in Devon; and the study by the National Poisons Unit at Guy's Hospital? Can the Minister further say why the Veterinary Medicines Directorate refused approval for a member of the consumer panel to speak to the consultant at the National Poisons Unit which, as the Minister knows, has studied sheep dip poisoning?

Earl Howe
My Lords, there is no question of barring access to the finished report prepared by the National Poisons Unit. It was simply not felt appropriate for discussions to be held until the full report had been finalised and published. That has now been done and copies of the report are freely available to inquirers from the Veterinary Medicines Directorate. There is absolutely no restriction on discussion of its findings with the researchers at the unit.

§ Baroness Masham of Ilton
My Lords, can the Minister say how many sheep dips there are without organo-phosphates? If sheep dipping is not now compulsory, are the sheep being monitored for sheep scab?

Earl Howe
My Lords, I believe that the overwhelming majority of sheep dips contain organo-phosphorus. There is another kind which I believe is based on a pyrethroid formula. It is unfortunately a fact that compulsory measures were not successful in eradicating the disease. They imposed a heavy burden on the farming industry. It is still a matter of good animal husbandry to dip sheep whenever a welfare problem is suspected.

The Earl of Halsbury
My Lords, is it sufficient to say "Do not come into contact" when in fact it is only safe if one wears a gas mask to avoid spray?

Earl Howe
My Lords, the noble Earl is not correct. That is not what the manufacturers necessarily recommend. All product labels contain recommendations on precautions to be taken when handling the sheep dip concentrate and dipping sheep. Those include the wearing of rubber gloves, rubber boots, a waterproof coat or apron and a face shield when handling the dip concentrate.

§ Lord Stanley of Alderley
My Lords, whatever decision the Government come to, will my noble friend bear in mind that if we do not dip our sheep there is enormous cruelty to our animals? A lamb will probably die within 48 hours. Will my noble friend's department encourage the use of the new mobile dips, which are very efficient? One does not get covered in dip as I do with the type of dip that I use. I have yet to manage to do it without falling in. Perhaps that accounts for the fact that my noble friend sits so far away from me.

Earl Howe
My Lords, as to the second point made by my noble friend, he is absolutely right. The responsibility to make sure that effective treatment is used properly lies with individual farmers. We will take action against anyone who causes a welfare problem by failing to deal properly with sheep scab.

§ Lord Carter
My Lords, the Minister referred approvingly to the report on this subject from the National Poisons Unit at Guy's Hospital. Can he tell the House of his department's decision as regards the further funding of the study?

Earl Howe
My Lords, the National Poisons Unit is continuing its survey of the effects on human health from exposure to sheep dip. In 1991 the unit examined 34 cases of suspected exposure reported to it by doctors. The conclusions were reported in a letter in the British Medical Journal of 31st October. The full report was published by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate which is funding the work at the same time. Further casework is expected to be completed by December 1992 with the results being made public in the middle of next year.

§ The Countess of Mar
My Lords, will the noble Earl reconsider the advice being given by the Health and Safety Executive about clothing? I believe that organo-phosphates are capable of passing through rubber. Will the Minister also bear in mind that when a sheep gets out of the dip the first thing it does is shake itself? The air becomes filled with droplets which presumably contain organo-phosphates. Not all of it will have stuck to the sheep's wool. The handlers will be inhaling considerable amounts if they are dipping between 500 and 1,000 sheep.

Earl Howe
My Lords, the work being carried out by the manufacturers of organo-phosphates includes work in the very areas which the noble Countess mentioned, including the details of the protective clothing worn and studies to show which areas of the operators' bodies are most exposed.