§ Mr. ToddTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the use of organophosphates in grain stores. [63993]
§ Mr. RookerAll pesticides, including organophosphorus (OP) compounds for use in grain stores, are regulated under the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986 or the Plant Protection Products Regulations 1995. Applicants wishing to gain approval for the use, sale, supply, storage and advertisement of such products are required to submit a substantive data package which is then subject to a rigorous assessment for safety and efficacy.
Pesticide active ingredients are subject to review either for routine purposes or because there is a specific concern. In May 1998, I announced a UK review of anticholinesterase compounds (including OPs) which will re-assess the risk that the use of such products present to consumers, workers and the environment.
The regulatory process includes an assessment of the effectiveness for use against the target pests for which approval and thus use is sought. Approval is only recommended if effectiveness is demonstrated. MAFF funded R&D has provided useful data by providing information about resistance to specific pesticides in farm and commercial grain stores. In 1996 the Advisory Committee on Pesticides concluded that information on the prevalence and control of resistant strains should be added to the labels of pesticides used in, amongst other areas, grain stores. This recommendation has been accepted by Ministers and implemented.