HC Deb 16 February 2000 vol 344 c595W
Mr. Breed

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what studies he has(a) commissioned and (b) received on the effect on wildlife of spraying sulphuric acid on crops; and if he will publish the results of such studies. [103394]

Ms Quin

Sulphuric acid is approved as "commodity chemical"—a substance which has pesticidal uses but for which the major uses are non-pesticidal and which no company wishes to market as a pesticide. Commodity chemicals are assessed on the basis of information in the public domain and MAFF has not commissioned studies concerning effects on wildlife. However, under the Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme, MAFF encourages the reporting of incidents suspected of being caused by pesticides and investigates all reports received. No incidents involving sulphuric acid have been reported in the past decade.

The most recent evaluation of sulphuric acid has been published and the underlying information is available for inspection at the Pesticides Safety Directorate in York.

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