Pesticides (Hansard, 16 June 1988)

§ Mr. Hood
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with union representatives concerning the safe use of pesticides; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Donald Thompson
Trade unions are represented on the three specialist panels established to give assistance to the independent advisory committee on pesticides. These panels, the medical and toxicological panel, the application technology panel and the labelling and container design panel, make an important contribution to ensuring the safe use of pesticides. Since October 1986 there have been a total of eight meetings, and trade union representatives have attended four of them.
Trade unions were consulted on the drafting of the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986. They were also consulted on the first draft of a statutory code of practice on use of pesticides in agriculture and will be able to comment on the revised draft which was published for use on a trial basis in February 1988.
No pesticide product is approved for use unless Ministers, on the advice of the advisory committee on pesticides, are satisfied that it can be used safely. From time to time new information becomes available. Trade unions are consulted whenever the withdrawal of approval for a product for safety reasons is to be considered by the ACP.
In addition to direct contacts with individual trade unions and the TUC, my Department is kept in touch with trade union views on the safe use of pesticides through tripartite bodies organised by the Health and Safety Executive. The Health and Safety Commission, which is itself a tripartite body, has to approve any advisory code of practice on safe use of pesticides drafted by the HSE.

§ Mr. Hood
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give details of the number of prosecutions of persons for breach of the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986, for each year since 1986.

§ Mr. Donald Thompson
My Department has conducted two, successful, prosecutions since the regulations were brought into effect in October 1986. One prosecution was in 1987, the other this year. Both were for misuse of pesticides. My Department may also prosecute offenders who misuse pesticides under other legislation. In 1987 there were two such prosecutions under the Protection of Animals Act 1911. The other agricultural departments are responsible for similar prosecutions in respect of their own areas.
Since 29 June 1987 the Health and Safety Executive has been the enforcing authority for the regulations for the premises for which they are responsible under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. These premises include farms and holdings, and pesticide manufacturers in Great Britain. Figures for prosecution should be available shortly.

§ Mr. Hood
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he takes to ensure that workers in the agriculture industry are fully aware of the dangers to their health from exposure to pesticides.

§ Mr. Donald Thompson
No pesticide product is approved for use unless Ministers, on the advice of the228W independent advisory committee on pesticides, are satisfied that it can be used safely. The product label is the principal way in which information on the safe use of a particular pesticide product is conveyed to the user. Any statements about operator protection or requirement for operator training have the force of law.
No workers in the agriculture industry may use a pesticide in the course of their work unless they have been given adequate instruction and guidance in the safe use of pesticides and are competent for the duties they are called upon to perform. And in using the pesticide they are required to take all reasonable precautions to protect the health of human beings.
In order to ensure that young people and those offering a commercial service are fully aware of all their obligations under the Control of Pesticide Regulations 1986, as from 1 January 1989 they will not be allowed to apply professional agricultural pesticides unless they hold an appropriate recognised certificate of competence.