§ Sir R. Russellasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what animals are used for testing potentially harmful chemical substances such as detergents, pesticides and cosmetics; and which Government agency is responsible for deciding on minimum standards of safety for these products.
Mr. SharpiesI regret that the information requested in the first part of the Question is not available. Safety standards for a wide range of pesticides are determined under a voluntary scheme—administered by the Agriculture and Health Departments of the United Kingdom, with the advice of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides and other Toxic Chemicals—whereby such products are submitted for clearance before they are marketed. Domestic detergents and cosmetics are the concern of the Home Office, which relies largely on the voluntary cooperation of the trade.