HC Deb 17 March 1997 vol 292 cc371-3W
Ms Ruddock

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will list the commercial composts currently marketed in the United Kingdom which incorporate(a) one or more pesticides and (b) imidacloprid; [20356]

(2) what requests he has received from manufacturers seeking to use imidacloprid in composts (a) used for growing edible plants and (b) available to the public. [20361]

Mrs. Browning

Currently there are no commercial composts containing pesticides approved for sale in the United Kingdom. However there are a number of pesticides, including imidacloprid, which have approval for use by professionals by means of incorporation to compost.

Every application for approvals of pesticides is commercially confidential until a final decision is taken on it.

Ms Ruddock

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ensure that plants raised in compost containing pesticides are clearly identified as such. [20360]

Mrs. Browning

Approval is given only if scientific evaluation shows that the product can be used without unacceptable risk to people or the environment. There is thus no need for crops produced with the aid of approved pesticides to be labelled as such.

Ms Ruddock

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the effects of imidacloprid on human health; and if he will make a statement. [20358]

Mrs. Browning

Before approval is given to any pesticide chemical, detailed scientific data on health effects, including both acute and chronic effects for pesticide users and for food consumers, are evaluated by the independent Advisory Committee on Pesticides— ACP—on behalf of the Government. The evaluation document for imidacloprid agreed by the ACP has been published and the detailed scientific data, which are protected by rules on commercial confidentiality, may be inspected at the Pesticides Safety Directorate. MAFF does not commission research into the health effects of individual pesticide chemicals.

Ms Ruddock

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the extent of the use of imidacloprid in commercial compost. [20357]

Mrs. Browning

Monitoring of all agricultural pesticides including imidacloprid is carried out by the working party on pesticide usage surveys in a four-year rolling programme. Imidacloprid is a recently approved chemical and does not yet feature largely in survey results. Such uses as have so far been recorded do not include application via compost.

Ms Ruddock

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many representations he has received regarding the use of imidacloprid in the product Levington Intercept. [20355]

Mrs. Browning

Apart from approaches from the company, the Ministry has received two inquiries regarding the use of imidacloprid in Levington Intercept.

Ms Ruddock

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ensure that any composts containing pesticides are clearly identified as such. [20359]

Mrs. Browning

A compost containing a pesticide chemical and intended to protect plants grown in it is subject to pesticides legislation and must be labelled as a pesticide. A compost sterilised, disinfected or otherwise treated with a pesticide but not in order to protect plants grown in it is not considered as a pesticide and not required to be so labelled. However, no pesticide may be used to treat compost in this country unless this use has been approved following full scientific evaluation of the potential consequences for people and the environment.

Mrs. Ann Winterton

To ask the Minster of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the results of the second survey of variable pesticides residues are now available; and if he will make a statement. [20825]

Mrs. Browning

The results of the second survey of variable pesticide residues were announced on 14 March. A copy of the announcement and of the supporting documents have been placed in the Library of the House.

The survey results show that levels of residues in the majority of fruit and vegetables fall well below recommended maximum residue levels. However, a small number of apples and peaches, including imports had higher residues than is desirable. We will be reporting these results in full to the Codex Alimentarius Commission so that it can instigate international action further to ensure consumer protection.

A large safety margin is built into the figures used when setting what can be regarded as an acceptable level. The Deputy Chief Medical Officer and Professor Sir. Colin Berry, chairman of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides, have issued statements which make clear that the results of the second survey for variable residues do not change Government advice that fruit and vegetables remain a key component of a healthy diet.