§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they keep records of the pesticides banned or severely restricted in this country that are being marketed and used in developing countries from which we may import food; and, if not, whether they will now do so in the light of the warning issued by the Food and Agriculture Organisation and the new convention to control trade in toxic pesticides. [HL3604]
§ Lord DonoughueThe recent Rotterdam convention controlling trade in certain hazardous industrial chemicals includes 22 chemicals used as pesticides. Most of these are either banned or have never been approved for use as pesticides in the United Kingdom. The Government do not maintain a comprehensive list of which of these pesticides are used in developing countries. However, the Government's wide ranging pesticides residues surveillance programme tests all major types of fresh produce, including produce imported from developing countries. There is no evidence from this programme that overseas use of the pesticides covered by the Rotterdam convention poses a significant risk to UK consumers, but appropriate surveillance will be maintained. Furthermore, statutory maximum residue levels are in place for many of the banned pesticides which effectively prohibit the import of any food treated with them.