§ The Countess of Marasked Her Majesty's Government:
When waxed fly strips containing Dichlorvos were first marketed under the trade name "Vapona"; whether a licence was required; and what toxicity tests were the manufacturers required to conduct. [HL1420]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonResin strips impregnated with Dichlorvos have been marketed under the trade name "Vapona" since the 1960s. A "licence" as such was not required at that time to allow manufacturers to place such products on the market. However the Pesticides Safety Precautions Scheme (PSPS) which operated on a voluntary basis "cleared" products for safe use, subject to labelling and any other conditions set by government departments. PSPS was operated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, with the HSE becoming involved about 1975.
To help manufacturers, guidance was published on the toxicity tests needed to help advisers make recommendations for the safe use of pesticides. The following information was published in "The Pesticides Safety Precautions Scheme agreed between Government Departments and Industry (1975)"
31WAToxicity data guide:
- Acute toxicity studies
- Cumulative toxicity studies
- Chronic toxicity studies, (including carcinogenicity tests if required).
- Neurotoxicity tests for organophosphorous compounds
- Metabolic studies
- Potentiation tests for organophosphorous compounds
It should be noted that the trade name "Vapona" covers a range of pesticide products.
§ The Countess of Marasked Her Majesty's Government:
When aerosol insect sprays for use in domestic situations in which the active ingredients were organophosphates were first introduced into the United Kingdom; and which were the organophosphates. [HL1421]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonHSE records show aerosol products containing organophosphorus compounds were on the market in the UK at least from 1975–76. At this time HSE became involved in the voluntary scheme in place to clear and register them. Before then, such products were the responsibility of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF—now DEFRA). The organophosphorus compounds contained within these products were as follows:
- Diazinon
- Dichlorvos
- Fenitrothion
- Iodofenphos
- Pirimiphos-Methyl.