§ 25. Mr. Arthur Lathamasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to be able to announce his decision about the future use of the chemical trithion.
§ Mr. StrangThe matter has been before the expert committee which, under the Pesticides Safety Precautions Scheme, not only considers new products but also reviews experience with those like trithion for which clearance has already been given. The committee has considered recent evidence of a risk to wild geese from eating seed treated with trithion. In the light of this steps have been taken firstly to ensure that this pesticide, and seed treated with it, are not sold in Scotland, where the main population of wild geese at risk normally feed; secondly, to modify the labels on all bags of treated seed so as to reinforce the existing instructions on safeguards for wildlife; and finally, to put in hand further departmental laboratory and field studies on lines recommended by the committee. The situation will be further reviewed by the committee after the 1975–76 sowing season.