§ Mr. J. Morrisonasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will make a statement on the recommendations in the second report of the Working Party, under the chairmanship of Professor Zuckerman, on the use of toxic chemicals in agriculture.
§ Sir T. DugdaleThis report deals with residues in food and possible risks to the consumer arising from the use of toxic substances on agricultural products and in the storage of food. Copies are available in the Vote Office. The use of these substances plays an important part in food production, and it is encouraging that there is no evidence of adverse effects resulting from current practices: but the position must clearly be kept under close review and the Government broadly accepts the proposals of the Working Party.
In particular, since many Departments are concerned with different aspects of this problem, an Inter-Departmental Advisory Committee is to be set up to keep under constant review all risks that may arise from the use of toxic substances in food production and storage and to make recommendations to the Ministers concerned. This Committee will have an independent chairman and I am glad to inform the House that Professor Zuckerman has agreed to accept this appointment for an initial period. The Committee will be assisted by such expert sub-committees as may be considered necessary to ascertain the facts regarding particular preparations and to arrange with the interests concerned for necessary experimental work and investigations.
Preliminary discussions with the Association of British Insecticide Manufacturers suggest that, subject to safeguards to avoid premature disclosure, it should be possible to arrange for their members to notify proposals for new toxic substances or for new uses of existing substances which involve toxic hazards. It is hoped and expected that these and 116W similar voluntary arrangements will obviate the need for any statutory requirement of notification.
The Government are considering, in consultation with the interests concerned, the suggestion that the use of bacterial rodenticides should be discontinued in view of possible risks to public health. These preparations, which are not on sale to the general public, have been in use on a considerable scale for many years. The companies using them have agreed to adopt, with minor modifications, the precautions recommended in the Report, the chief of which are already part of their current practice. They have also offered to collaborate with the appropriate Departments, who will keep the matter, under close review.
I would take this opportunity of thanking Professor Zuckerman and his colleagues for the valuable contribution they have made to the study of this important subject.