HL Deb 17 June 1993 vol 546 cc1660-2

3.7 p.m.

The Countess of Mar asked Her Majesty's Government:

What action they take to ensure that spent sheep dips are properly and safely disposed of.

The Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Earl Howe)

My Lords, detailed guidance to farmers on correct disposal is provided in statutory codes of good practice on the prevention of pollution from agricultural activity which have been published, widely publicised and made available free of charge to farmers. Warnings of the dangers of these dips and advice on their disposal are also given in leaflets produced and widely distributed by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department

It is an offence to dispose of spent sheep dip in any way which pollutes the water environment

The Countess of Mar

My Lords, I thank the noble Earl for his reply. Is he aware that until very recently responsible farmers who contacted the authorities asking how they should dispose of their dip have been told only what not to do—in other words, not to let it get into a water course—and not what to do? Recent instructions that it should either be mixed with slurry or stored for disposal by a specialist company cause problems because a lot of sheep farmers do not have slurry available so that they can mix it and spread it on their land and the other disposal method is very expensive. Is the noble Earl aware that some research has been done which indicates that organophosphates, if they have all the phenols removed from them, can be mixed with hypochlorite solution which renders them harmless? Can he say why this has not been introduced as a matter of urgency?

Earl Howe

My Lords, the safe method of disposal for spent sheep dip depends on whether there are suitable areas for disposal. If there is doubt over the risk of polluting water, the NRA, or in Scotland the local River Purification Board, should be consulted. If a suitable area of land cannot be identified the spent sheep dip should be stored in a holding tank pending disposal by a reputable specialist contractor. In other circumstances, where there is no risk to controlled water, the spreading of spent sheep dip onto suitable land is permitted subject to appropriate precautions

With regard to the noble Countess's second question, we are aware that preliminary research in this area is under way but the results have yet to be evaluated. The use of hypochlorite for the treatment of spent sheep dip formulations containing phenols would not be considered suitable in the light of the formation of chlorinated phenolic compounds.

Lord Gallacher

My Lords, can the noble Earl confirm that the United Kingdom Government is facing the possibility of legal action by European Community officials over the disposal of organophosphorous sheep dips? If such action is pending, do Her Majesty's Government contemplate any advice to farmers meanwhile?

Earl Howe

My Lords, the Government have received a letter from the EC Commission following a complaint that it received about the application in the United Kingdom of Directive 80/68EEC on the protection of groundwater against pollution. It is alleged that farmers in Scotland dispose of sheep dip containing diazinon in ways contrary to the requirements of the directive. The Government are carefully considering the Commission's letter and will be sending a full reply in due course.

Baroness Nicol

My Lords, can the noble Earl say whether the cost of disposing of sheep dip in the recommended way is very prohibitive for farmers? If the cost is too great, does the Minister agree that farmers might be persuaded just to open a tap and let it go? Have the Government undertaken any investigation as to whether the costs are proper in relation to the job which is done?

Earl Howe

My Lords, there is obviously a cost attached to the disposal of sheep dip where a licensed contractor is employed to undertake the work. It is around £200, and up to £500 in some cases

The Countess of Mar

My Lords, can the noble Earl say why the development of sheep dips not containing phenols has not been hastened? I understand that phenols do not serve much purpose in a sheep dip. I have been told that Welsh farmers like it because it gives the dip a nice smell, and that is what they have been used to over the years. It is a very important question concerning environmental safety. Can the Minister say whether the matter can be expedited?

Earl Howe

My Lords, that is a matter for the manufacturers to consider as a question of commercial judgment.