HL Deb 08 July 1998 vol 591 c144WA
The Countess of Mar

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will publish a report of the results of the examination by the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) of the review of the Medical Research Council Institute for Environment and Health: Organophosphorus esters: an evaluation of the chronic neurotoxic effects; including particularly the COT's answers to the questions posed in paragraph 3.24 of Official Group on OPs—Report to Ministers. [HL2586]

Baroness Jay of Paddington

The Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) has set up a working group to discuss this topic. The Institute for Environment and Health report and the questions posed in theOfficial Group on OPs—Report to Ministers were presented to the working group at its first meeting on 22 May.

When the working group has completed its review into whether prolonged low level exposure to organophosphates, or acute exposure to OPs of a lower dose than causing frank intoxication, can cause chronic ill health effects, the COT will publish a report.