HL Deb 18 May 1998 vol 589 cc144-5WA
Lord Davies of Oldham

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What plans they have to review approvals of pesticides. [HL 1879]

The Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Lord Donoughue)

As part of the national arrangements for the running review of past approvals of pesticides, my honourable friend the Minister of State (Mr. Rooker) has agreed with colleagues in the other regulatory departments that there should be a review of those organophosphate pesticides approved for agricultural use under the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986. The review will not extend to sheep dips and other veterinary medicines which are authorised and subject to scrutiny under separate legislation. On the advice of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides (ACP) the review will also cover carbamate pesticides, as these have similar modes of action.

We welcome the ACP's intention that the review should be informed by all relevant sources of information.