§ Ms. CorstonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reports or information his Department has received concerning links between exposure to organo-phosphate sheep dips and chronic illness.
§ Mr. SoamesThe veterinary medicines directorate operates a suspected adverse reaction reporting scheme for all veterinary medicines, including sheep dips. All reports are fully investigated. The results of those involving humans are assessed by an appraisal panel of Government doctors and scientists who evaluate potential links between human health and exposure to organophosphate sheep dips, before consideration by the Veterinary Products Committee, an independent scientific advisory committee.
In addition, a project to investigate possible chronic effects on farmers of occupational exposure to organophosphate dips is currently being carried out by the institute of occupational health at Birmingham university.
§ Ms. CorstonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice is currently given by his Department to people in the use of organo-phosphate sheep dip.
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§ Mr. SoamesThe manufacturers of all licensed organophosphate sheep dips are required, as a condition of approval, to provide advice to users via product labels and product literature on the safe use of these products, including the need for protective clothing. Further advice is contained in the free leaflet "The Safe Handling and Disposal of Sheep Dips" published by the veterinary medicines directorate which has been distributed to all sheep farmers in England and Wales.
It is important that this advice is carefully followed by those using these products.