§ Mrs. Anne CampbellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the environmental impact of the use of the herbicide glyphosphate when it is applied to the land as an aid in conservation tillage schemes. [90599]
§ Mr. RookerI believe my hon. Friend is referring to the herbicide glyphosate. All pesticides are subject to strict statutory control and are approved only following thorough scientific evaluation of the risk that they pose to people, wildlife and to the wider environment. Only if this assessment shows that there is no unacceptable risk will approval be granted.
Glyphosate has been approved as a herbicide since 1974. The environmental impact of its use in conservation tillage schemes would have been assessed at that time. Glyphosate is currently being reviewed by the EU Commission and the UK is playing an active part in this work. The review is expected to be completed by about late 2000.