§ The Countess of Marasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are satisfied that existing regulatory requirements adequately assess the long-term health risks to humans of new pesticides.
The Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Earl Howe)Under the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986, applicants are required to provide Ministers with comprehensive technical data when seeking approval of a pesticide product. All data requirements have to be met before the safety evaluation of the product can begin.
Data on risks to humans are a key component of the information submitted by companies. The material is subjected to rigorous evaluation by the pesticide registration departments before being submitted to the independent Advisory Committee on Pesticides for consideration. Ministers will only approve a new product if they and the Advisory Committee are satisfied that its proposed use is safe.
Similar arrangements and requirements apply under the Medicines Act 1968 to those pesticides which are classified as veterinary medicines because they are to be used for a medicinal purpose. In such cases the independent Veterinary Products Committee considers and advises Ministers on applications for product licences.