§ The Countess of Marasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why manufacturers of pesticides which contain organophosphates for use in domestic gardens and greenhouses are not required to include a cautionary warning to users whose health may be adversely affected by organophosphate products; and
Whether they will ask the authority responsible for issuing licences to manufacturers of pesticides which contain organophosphates for use in domestic gardens and greenhouses to consider whether the containers of these products should carry a statutory warning to users whose health may be adversely affected by their use.
The Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Earl Howe)All pesticide products are approved, on the advice of the independent Advisory Committee on Pesticides, only if Her Majesty's Government is satisfied that they can be used without unacceptable risk to pesticide users, consumers of treated produce, or those in the vicinity of the pesticide application or to the environment. Only products that can be used without the need to take special precautions are considered suitable for use by amateurs in domestic gardens and greenhouses. Approval would not be granted for amateur use in any other circumstances. It would not therefore be appropriate to apply special warnings to amateur products, including those organophosphates approved for home garden use.