§ The Countess of Marasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether all the organophosphate compounds in licensed sheep dips sold in the United Kingdom have passed the neurotoxicity screening tests currently required by EC Regulations.
The Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Earl Howe)There are two organophosphate compounds used in products authorised in the UK as sheep dips. Reviews of the products are being undertaken by the Veterinary Products Committee in accordance with Directive 81/852/EEC (as amended) and guidelines published by the European Commission. These include a requirement for data to assess any risk which might result from exposure to the products.
§ The Countess of Marasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in view of the known neurotoxic and neuropsychological effects of organophosphate compounds, they will forthwith suspend the sale of any organophosphate based sheep dips which have either not passed the neurotoxicity screening tests or have not yet been tested; and whether they will give the widest publicity to the information available to them and the action which they propose to take in this respect.
Earl HoweFollowing a review of OP dips by the Veterinary Products Committee in 1993, the VPC concluded there was no scientific evidence for a ban. The VPC is continuing its review of OP-containing products and considers any new relevant information. Ministers' decisions following VPC advice on such reviews are made public.