§ Mr. Hanleyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the results of the first year's monitoring programme for TBT in the aquatic environment, and what further action he proposes to take.
§ Mr. Waldegrave[pursuant to his answer, 13 January 1987, c. 143]: In the light of evidence that the existing controls have not been effective in reducing contamination of the aquatic environment to acceptable levels and of evidence that the existing environmental quality target has been set too high to protect the most sensitive species, the Government have decided that further controls are necessary. The Government intend, therefore, to make further regulations under section 100 of the Control of Pollution Act as soon as possible to ban the retail sale of anti-fouling paints containing tributyl-tin (TBT). This should effectively prevent their use on small craft. In addition the regulations will prohibit products containing TBT being used to treat fish farm nets and cages.
From 1 July all anti-fouling paints will become subject to the provisions of the Food and Environment Protection Act and, as my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, announced in his reply to the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark) on 3 February, he has asked the Advisory Committee on Pesticides to consider and advise on the scientific evidence on TBT in the aquatic environment, with a view to making appropriate recommendations well before 1 July.