§ Mrs. Margaret EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has about the use of the product Dinoseb in raspberry production in Scotland.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythIn December 1986 it was announced that all approvals except for storage of the use of Dinoseb and chemically related products were to be suspended on evidence of birth defects in experimental animals.
In the spring of 1987 and on the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides, the responsible Ministers agreed that the suspension should be relaxed to allow the use of Dinoseb only in Scotland on the raspberry variety Glen Clova for a limited period from 20 April to 29 May 1987 under strict and tightly supervised conditions. Dinoseb treatment is the only known means of controlling excessive cane vigour in Glen Clova, a variety which occupies some 75 per cent. of the total area of raspberry production in Scotland.
Since December 1986 the Advisory Committee on Pesticides has carried out a full review on Dinoseb and its recommendations are now being considered by Ministers; an announcement as to future use of the chemical will he made shortly.