HC Deb 11 March 1964 vol 691 cc69-70W
Mr. Thorpe

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the Advisory Committee on Poisonous Substances, in its examination of the use of fluoroacetamide as a rodenticide, has made an assessment of the quantities which may find their way into rivers and the sea through contaminated sewage effluent.

Mr. Scott-Hopkins

The Advisory Committee examined this point some years ago and is reconsidering it in its current review of this chemical.

Captain Kerby

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the fact that gardeners who used fluoroacetamide last year are now being warned not to grow edible crops on their contaminated soil this year but to grow flowers instead, he will issue a similar warning to farmers, in view of the fact that farmers use this poison at 10 times the strength of gardeners, and that the amount permitted to farmers to spray one acre of edible crops is lethal for dogs.

Mr. Scott-Hopkins

No. The Department has not issued any such general advice to gardeners.