§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what publicly funded toxology tests on CIPC have been carried out in the United Kingdom; and what notification he has had of toxology tests on CIPC carried out in the United Kingdom by companies.
§ Mr. SoamesNo publicly funded toxicology tests on CIPC, also known as chlorpropham, have been carried out in the United Kingdom. It is the rule that an applicant for approval of a pesticide product is responsible for carrying out the necessary toxicology tests.
Reports of toxicity tests performed in the United Kingdom on formulations containing CIPC have been submitted as part of a number of approvals for products containing CIPC. But the majority of studies submitted on the toxicology of CIPC are based on work performed in Europe, north America and Japan.
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§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of whether the chemical CIPC is suitable for use in crisp manufacturing.
§ Mr. SoamesThere is evidence that CIPC, also known as chlorpropham, is effective as a means of preventing sprouting of potatoes in store, and so helping to ensure a year-round supply of potatoes suitable for crisp manufacture. The EC pesticide review programme will in due course consider all aspects of the approval of CIPC, including its effectiveness and its toxicology.
Following recommendations from the independent Advisory Committee on Pesticides, an average daily intake figure of 0.1 mg per kilogram body weight per day for CIPC has provisionally been set for consumer risk assessment purposes. Residues of CIPC found in total diet studies indicate that CIPC presents no risk to health.