§ Mr. Ron Daviesasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress is being made in the negotiations in Brussels on proposals by the Economic Community Commission for maximum pesticide residue limits in certain foodstuffs; and if he will make a statement on their bearing on powers he intends to propose in the Food and Environment Protection Bill [Lords.]
§ Mrs. FennerThere are Commission proposals for Council directives fixing maximum residue limits for pesticide residues in cereals for human consumption, foodstuffs of animal origin and animal feedingstuffs Earlier this year the Council of Ministers approved a timetable of work which included adoption of these directives by 1 January 1985 but this now seems less realistic. Powers to implement these proposed directives have been included in the Food and Environment Protection Bill. Before we introduce regulations under these powers there will be wide-ranging consultation with interested parties.
§ Mr. Ron Daviesasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many pesticides have been considered and approved for safe use under the pesticides safety precaution scheme, during the life of the scheme, 406W by his Department; and if he will list those pesticides approved; and if he will list those pesticides rejected, giving the reason in each case.
§ Mrs. FennerI regret that the information requested could only be provided at disproportionate cost. However, I can advise the hon. Member that currently there are approximately 4,400 pesticide products cleared for safe use in the United Kingdom: will send him a list. Statistics relating to formal rejections under the pesticides safety precautions scheme (PSPS) would not give a clear picture of the operation of the scheme, because manufacturers frequently withdraw applications when they conclude that the difficulty of satisfying the safety requirements of PSPS makes further progress unlikely.