§ Lord Ashley of Stokeasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether there have been any research studies in this country of possible links between eye defects and pesticides.
§ Baroness CumberlegeData from laboratory animal studies, including teratological studies, provided as part of the pesticides approval process have been considered by departments and by the Advisory Committee on Pesticides. Ministers are required by the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 to consult this committee of independent experts established under the Act before any pesticide is approved for use in the United Kingdom. Approval is not given unless the studies demonstrate that there should be no undue risk to human health when the product is used in accordance with the stipulated conditions.
The aim of the animal studies is to determine a no effect level (NOEL) for any adverse health effect. From this, conditions of use are set for all approved pesticides so that the exposure of workers and consumers is well below that which might cause any harm.
No research studies have been conducted in humans into links between pesticides and eye defects but there is no evidence to indicate that eye defects in people are or are likely to be caused by the use of pesticides.