HC Deb 28 January 1998 vol 305 cc303-6W
Mr. Gareth Thomas

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the outcome of the review of non-organophosphorus sheep dips carried out by the Veterinary Products Committee; and if he will make a statement. [26466]

Mr. Rooker

The Committee's report to the Licensing Authority (Agriculture and Health Ministers) is today being placed in the Library.

Following its review last year of the effectiveness of the Certificate of Competence Scheme for the purchase of organophosphorus (OP) sheep dips, the Veterinary Products Committee (VPC) has reviewed the use of non-OP sheep dips. The Committee has advised that the Certificate of Competence Scheme should be extended to all sheep dips and we are already consulting on the necessary changes to the legislation to bring this into effect as quickly as possible.

The Committee reaffirmed its earlier advice that the Scheme should apply to the use of sheep dips as well as to their purchase and, as for OP dips, this will be achieved by strengthening measures to secure compliance with existing statutory duties. New guidance is being prepared by the Health and Safety Executive about the duties of farmers under the Health and Safety at Work Act and related legislation. The guidance will also emphasise the importance of the Certificate of Competence Scheme operated by the National Proficiency Tests Council (NPTC).

The Committee was very concerned about reports of the environmental effects of synthetic pyrethroid (SP) sheep dips. We endorse this concern and are pleased to note that the NPTC has already completed a revision of the Certificate of Competence Scheme. In future, the Scheme will include practical training in the proper use and disposal of dips. The questions in the test for the Certificate will be arranged in specific sections relating to, for example, environmental issues and operator safety, and a certain level of knowledge will be required in each section to achieve a pass mark. In addition, questions will relate to all forms of sheep dip and will include reference to the dangers to aquatic life from use and disposal of SP dips.

We endorse the Committee's advice that those who have already obtained Certificates of Competence should be encouraged to take a further test on new areas of the Certificate not previously covered.

The Committee has recommended that product literature warnings about toxicity to aquatic life should be based on risk not hazard; that advice about the protection of the environment should be simple, concise, clearly set out and cross-referenced; that there should be reference to specific problems that may arise such as spillage, contamination from sheep to water, and improper disposal; and that product labels should be amended to refer to the Environment Agency (EA), the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), and the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland (DOENI). We accept these recommendations and will pursue them with marketing authorisation holders, in the light of the Committee's further consideration of the labelling of sheep dips.

We accept the Committee's advice that there should be a mechanism for informing water regulators about dipping and for consulting them about proposed methods of disposal. Proposed new Groundwater Regulations recently issued for consultation by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, the Scottish Office and the Welsh Office include provisions which would address these issues.

The Committee has advised that the sheep dipping leaflet (AS29) should be revised to include comprehensive and up to date advice on the proper use and disposal of sheep dips to prevent contamination of water and this is being done.

We accept the Committee's advice that there should be new requirements for toxicity data for SP dips. The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has been asked to ensure these changes are made and that data on flumethrin are obtained as quickly as possible.

Finally, the Committee has asked for an up to date data base on the use of sheep dips. It has previously been found difficult to obtain accurate information on this but officials of the VMD will pursue the question further with marketing authorisation holders.

I should like to thank Professor Aitken and the Committee for the thoroughness of their review and for their clear and helpful advice.