HC Deb 19 November 1984 vol 68 cc77-8W
Mr. John

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether he intends to introduce regulations under the food and environment protection Bill to control the equipment and methods used in applying pesticides;

(2) whether he intends to introduce regulations under the food and environmental protection Bill to control aerial spraying.

Mrs. Fenner

The regulations to be introduced under the Bill will be the subject of a detailed consultation and will be laid before the House for adoption by affirmative resolution. I do not wish to prejudge the outcome of that process, but I anticipate that the regulations will require the safe and efficient use of pesticides, and will therefore control the equipment and methods used in their application—including aerial application—in so far as these affect safety and efficiency.

Mr. John

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the proposed extension of screening for efficacy to all pesticides will entail less rigorous tests of efficacy than are currently applied in the agricultural chemicals approval scheme.

Mrs. Fenner

We intend that the requirement to submit data on efficacy under the statutory scheme should be obligatory, and will for the first time allow the Government to ensure that no pesticide is released in the environment unless its use has been demonstrated to be beneficial. As such, the requirement will be a major improvement in principle to the Government's arrangements for the scrutiny of pesticides, and cannot be compared directly with a voluntary scheme designed to give approval to a limited range of products at the request of manufacturers.

Mr. John

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he intends to grant automatic approval under the new pesticides scheme to products which have been cleared under the pesticides safety precautions scheme but have not been approved for efficacy under the agricultural chemicals approved scheme; and whether approval of a product under the new scheme will entitle the manufacturer to use the mark of the agricultural chemicals approved scheme and to be included in the list of approved products for farmers and growers.

Mrs. Fenner

Both the points raised relate to the detail of the new arrangements rather than to the principles and procedures outlined in the Bill. They will be the subject

for each location (a) the nature of the commodity, (b) the quantity of the commodity and (c) the value of the commodity at the latest available date.

Mr. Jopling

At 30 September 1984 the position was as follows:

of a further consultation with industry and other interests before a regulation outlining the Government's proposals is submitted to Parliament for approval.

Mr. John

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many pesticides have been (a) approved under the agricultural chemicals approved scheme and (b) cleared under the pesticides safety precautions scheme; in each case how many are (i) restricted to commercial use and (ii) available to ordinary members of the public for home and garden use; and how many are included in the Poisons List.

Mrs. Fenner

The agricultural chemicals approval scheme—ACAS—is available only to agricultural crop protection products, while the pesticides safety precautions scheme — PSPS — covers all pesticide formulations marketed in the United Kingdom for use in agriculture, horticulture, food storage, industrial pest control, public health and wood preservation. Approximately 4,400 pesticide products are cleared for safe use in the United Kingdom under the PSPS, and around 700 agrochemical pesticides are also approved under ACAS. I will write with the further detailed figures requested.

Mr. John

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he proposes to make any changes in the role of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides.

Mrs. Fenner

No. I am confident that the committee will adapt to the situation created by legislation, as it has to a variety of developments over the years.

Mr. John

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he proposes to extend efficacy testing to garden chemicals under the new pesticides scheme.

Mrs. Fenner

Yes.