§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to withdraw clearance for the commercial use of organophosphates. [3389]
§ Mr. Rooker[holding answer 16 June 1997]: We have considered this very carefully. The Government act on the scientific advice of the independent advisory committees set up by the Medicines Act 1968 and the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985. Their current advice is that organophosphourus sheep dips and pesticides can be used safely in accordance with the manufacturers' instructions. Further work is in hand to emphasis the importance of using and disposing of these products safely including an updated leaflet "Sheep Dipping" which will be sent to sheep farmers later this year. The Government attach great importance to this work.