HC Deb 15 May 1985 vol 79 cc132-3W
Mr. Ron Davies

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what restrictions exist on the use of organochlorines in houses and in house construction in European Community countries.

Sir George Young

[pursuant to his reply, 2 May 1985, c. 185]: The term organochlorines encompasses a wide range of pesticides, disinfectants and solvents, some of which are used in the protection of building materials and in eradicating pests in houses. Most European Community countries regulate the use of organochlorine substances as pesticides either by permitting certain uses or by banning certain uses: the approach adopted varies according to the particular legal system. I am advised that the use of DDT, aldrin, dieldrin and endrin in houses and in some products used in house construction is banned or severely restricted in Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Holland and the United Kingdom. The use of lindane in these countries is generally less severely restricted. The use of chlorophenols, which are less persistent, is severely restricted in Denmark and in Germany. In the United Kingdom, the level of contaminants in chlorophenols used in wood preservatives is closely controlled through the pesticides safety precautions scheme.

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