§ Dr. David Clarkasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the purposes for which DDT was approved for use by farmers in (a) 1970, (b) 1975 and (c) 1980; and what was the known use by weight and area of DDT-based products in each of these years.
§ Mrs. FennerDDT was cleared under the pesticides safety precautions scheme for the following uses in 1970, 1975 and 1980:
1970
- 1. Home garden (Use withdrawn 1971).
- 2. Home kitchen and larder (Use withdrawn 1971).
- 3. Rodenticide.
- 4. Agriculture and horticulture: On any non-edible crop. On any growing edible crop subject to specified harvest intervals.
- 5. Food storage.
- 6. Animal husbandry (use withdrawn 1972).
1975
- 1. Rodenticide (use withdrawn 1980).
533 - 2. Agriculture and horticulture: On any non-edible crop. On any growing edible crop subject to specified harvest intervals, with the exception of:
- (a) permanent and temporary grass for grazing, silage or hay (use on new leys was acceptable where necessary);
- (b) brassica seed crops, peas and beans (but allowable for weevil control of seedling crops);
- (c) top fruit, raspberries, gooseberries, loganberries, blackberries and redcurrants;
- (d) the control of aphids on any crop.
1980
Agriculture and horticulture (as above).These uses were withdrawn as alternative pesticides became available. The last cleared use, that is to control eelworms in ornamentals, sugar beet, potatoes, strawberries and carrots, was withdrawn from 1 October 1984.The approximate weights of DDT used were as follows:
- 1970—210 tonnes
- 1975—90 tonnes
- 1980—100 tonnes
I regret that information on areas treated is not available at reasonable cost.