§ Mr. Ron Daviesasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the approved concentration for the aerial application of glyphosate (N phosphonomethyl glycine); what was the agency responsible; and what was the scientific basis for determining this figure.
§ Mrs. FennerGlyphosate is not at present cleared for application from the air. Two limited clearances for the aerial application of glyphosate to a total of 800 ha of Forestry Commission land during 1985 were granted but both have now run out. In both cases the clearance stated that the glyphosate should be applied at the rate of three litres of the formulated product in 60 litres of water per hectare. The limited clearances were granted under the pesticides safety precautions scheme by the following Government Departments acting jointly:
- The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
- The Department of the Environment
- The Health and Safety Executive
- The Department of Health and Social Security
- The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland
- The Department of Agriculture (Northern Ireland)
- The Department of Health and Social Services (N.I.)
- The Scottish Home and Health Department
- The Welsh Office
The scientific basis for granting these limited clearances was the data provided by the notifier under the terms of the PSPS.
§ Mr. Ron Daviesasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food under which circumstances the aerial application of glyphosate (N phosphonomethyl glycine) would be sanctioned at concentrations greater than four litres per hectare.
§ Mrs. FennerClearances for the use of glyphosate from the air have so far specified an application rate of three litres of product in 60 litres of water per hectare. It is not possible to speculate about the conditions that would be applied to any higher dose rates.
§ Mr. Ron Daviesasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the adequacy of present controls on the aerial application of glyphosate (N phosphonomethyl glycine); and if he has any plans to seek to institute additional controls during the lifetime of the current Parliament.
§ Mrs. FennerDuring 1985, limited clearances under the pesticides safety precautions scheme were granted for the use of glyphosate from the air for a stipulated period. The limitations on use imposed by these clearances (which have now expired) and the requirements of the Air Navigation Order 1980, as enforced by the Civil Aviation Authority, provided adequate controls over its safe application. The Government circulated proposals for further strengthening of statutory controls over aerial spraying in the consultative document issued on 1 November.