HC Deb 06 July 1971 vol 820 cc336-7W
Mr. Hardy

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what chemical substances are forbidden to be used in agriculture or forestry; and what are the reasons for their prohibition.

Mr. Anthony Stodart

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 20th April.—[Vol. 815, c.366–7.] The Pesticides Safety Precautions Scheme ensures first of all that a substance is not put on the market unless the Advisory Committee are satisfied that it can be used safely; and secondly, that those already on the market are withdrawn where this is justified by new scientific evidence. Thanks to these screening arrangements, many formulations have never been marketed at all, but to divulge the commercial details could breach the mutual confidence under which manufacturers supply essential information to the Committee and upon which the success of the Scheme depends. The substances which have been withdrawn from agricultural or forestry use since the Scheme began are: Cadmium compounds. Calcium arsenate. Tetrachloroethane. Thallium sulphate (except as a rodenticide in the hands of trained operators). Selenium compounds. Alkali arsenites. Fluoroacetamide (except as a rodenticide in the hands of trained operators).

Mr. Hardy

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what chemical substances, described by their scientific and by their trade names, are in use in agriculture, horticulture and forestry although they are known to be harmful to the health of human beings and other mammals.

Mr. Anthony Stodart

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies which I gave him on 20th April. Agriculture, horticulture and forestry are no exception to the general rule that most chemical substances can be harmful unless the proper precautions are taken.

I am glad of this opportunity to pay tribute to the Advisory Committee on Pesticides and Other Toxic Chemicals for the painstaking way in which it establishes and prescribes the precautions needed for the various uses of each product cleared for marketing.—[Vol. 815, c. 366–7.]