§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reasons sludge sewage has been exempted from requiring a waste management licence for treatment in agriculture; and what research has been undertaken to assess the potential health risks posed by sewage sludge seeping into water supplies. [173428]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 18 May 2004]: Article 2 of the Waste Framework Directive exempts sewage sludge from waste management licensing requirements if it is used in accordance with the separate Directive on use of sludge in agriculture. This Directive, which is implemented by the Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations 1989, as amended, requires sludge to be used in such a way that the quality of the surface and ground water is not impaired. In addition, there are statutory requirements to ensure that only treated water may enter the public drinking water supply, to comply with European and national standards.
981W
§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research has been undertaken to assess the potential risks to health posed by the spreading of sewage sludge on agricultural fields situated close to residential homes. [173429]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 18 May 2004]: A study carried out in the USA has examined the evidence for Staphylococcus aureus (SA) in sewage sludge applied to land and whether a route existed by which populations living in proximity to sludge spreading could be infected. The result of this work was that no SA were detected in any background aerosol or sludge aerosol sample.
Proposals to amend the Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations 1989, as amended, will further strengthen the controls applying to the recycling of sewage sludge in England and Wales by making statutory the water industry's voluntary ban on the use of untreated sewage sludge on agricultural land.
§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps have been taken to amend the Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations 1989 to incorporate a safe barrier between agricultural fields treated with sewage sludge and residential homes; and if she will make a statement. [173432]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 18 May 2004]: The Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations 1989, as amended, ensure that recycling sludge to agricultural land is carried out in a way that protects human and animal health and the environment. Proposed revisions to the regulations will introduce additional requirements to protect further against the entry of pathogens into the food chain. These requirements are already being followed on a voluntary basis by the water industry.
The non-statutory Code of Practice for Agriculture Use of Sewage Sludge, which is also under revision, includes recommendations on environmental protection relating to odour control and proximity to properties.