§ Mr. MansTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what changes he plans to make to the system of approving pesticides. [6520]
§ Mr. BoswellMinisters make decisions on the approval of pesticides on the basis of recommendations from the independent expert Advisory Committee on Pesticides. I have agreed with my colleagues in the other regulatory Departments that its present sub-committee on pesticides690W will be replaced by a smaller, more flexible, inter-departmental secretariat to ensure that the UK can make a timely and effective input into the European regulatory system for plant protection products. The new body begins work immediately on the European front and will take over the processing of applications under the UK system during the course of next year.