74. Mrs. Butlerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what arrangements, his Department makes for screening all chemicals used in agriculture and horticulture before marketing is permitted; what new arrangements he intends to make to ensure no repetition of the Smarden incident; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SoamesUnder the voluntary Notification of Pesticides Scheme manufacturers undertake not to market a new pesticide for use in agriculture or food storage until the Advisory Committee on Poisonous Substances has examined it and Government Departments have issued official recommendations for its safe use. The incident at Smarden did not arise from the agricultural use of a chemical but from its manufacture, and the lessons to be learned from it are being studied by the Government.