HL Deb 14 April 1993 vol 544 cc64-6WA
Lord Ashley of Stoke

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will list (a) the reports of the Pesticides Usage Survey Group which refer to the use of benomyl; and (b) the studies considered by the Advisory Committee on Pesticide which have indicated clear safety levels for birth defects in relation to the use of this chemical.

Earl Howe

The reports of the Pesticide Usage Survey Group, which have been published in the last 10 years, and which include information on the usage of benomyl in England and Wales are as follows:

PUSR 25 Protected Crops 1981–82
PUSR 27 Review of Pesticide Usage in Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Husbandry 1975–79
PUSR 28 Aerial Spraying in Great Britain 1980
PUSR 29 Vegetables for Human Consumption 1981
PUSR 30 Hardy Nursery Stock 1981
PUSR 34 Aerial Spraying in Great Britain 1981
PUSR 35 Arable Farm Crops and Grass 1982
PUSR 37 Outdoor Bulbs 1982
PUSR 38 Orchards and Fruit Stores 1983
PUSR 41 Review of Usage of Pesticides in Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Husbandry in England and Wales 1980–83
PUSR 47 Oil Seed Rape 1982
PUSR 49 Aerial Application in Great Britain 1982
PUSR 51 Soft Fruit 1984
PUSR 59 Aerial Applications in Great Britain 1983
PUSR 60 Aerial Applications in Great Britain 1984
PUSR 61 Aerial Applications in Great Britain 1985
PUSR 62 Edible Glasshouse Crops 1985
PUSR 64 Vegetables for Human Consumption 1986
PUSR 69 Aerial Applications, Great Britain 1986
PUSR 70 Orchards and Fruit Stores 1987
PUSR 72 Aerial Applications in Great Britain 1987
PUSR 76 Aerial Applications in Great Britain 1988
PUSR 78 Arable Crops 1988
PUSR 79 Fodder and Forage Crops 1989
PUSR 81 Aerial Applications in Great Britain 1989
PUSR 84 Aerial Applications in Great Britain 1990
PUSR 85 Arable Crops 1990
PUSR 86 Soft Fruit 1990
PUSR 101 Vegetables for Human Consumption 1991
PUSR 102 Protected Crops (Edible and Ornamental) 1991

The following studies considered by the Advisory Committee on Pesticides have indicated clear safety levels for birth defects in relation to the use of benomyl:

Report on the teratogenicity potential of benomyl administered via oral and dietary routes in the Wistar rat—Kavlock R J, Chernoff N O, Gray L E. January 11 1980; Health Effects Research Laboratory Report No HLR 264–68.

Teratogenic effects of benomyl in the Wistar rat and CD-1 mouse with emphasis on the route of administration—Kavlock R J, Chernoff N, Gray E, Whitehouse D, Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 62 pp 44–54 (1982)

Teratogenicity study in rats with 1-butylcarbomy1–2-benzimidazolecarbamaic acid, methyl ester—Culik R, Sherman H, Zapp J, (July 9 1970, Medical Research Project No 1340. Haskell Laboratory Report No 286–70).

Benomyl gavage: Teratogenicity study in the rat—October 1982 (Medical Research Project No 4380–001. Haskell Laboratory Report No 587–82).

Benomyl: Teratogenicity study in the rat after administration by gavage—Staples R, Aftomise J, Barba C (September 18 1980. Medical Research Project No 3501–001. Haskell Laboratory Report No 649–80)

Fungicide 1991 Segment II—teratology study rabbits—(Hazelton Project No 201–214).