HL Deb 22 April 2002 vol 634 cc8-9WA
The Countess of Mar

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 27 March (WA 61), whether they will list all the cases dealt with by the Pesticides Incidents Appraisal Panel (PIAP) from 1996 to 2001, giving the date when each incident was reported to the Health and Safety Executive and then to PIAP and the date upon which PIAP notified the individual(s) concerned of their case classification. [HL3729]

Lord Falconer of Thoroton

As the Question requests a substantial amount of information, a comprehensive list of all 397 cases dealt with by the Pesticides Incidents Appraisal Panel (PIAP) between 1996 and 2001, showing all three dates requested, will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

The Countess of Mar

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 27 March (WA 61), what lessons have been derived from the cumulative information on pesticide incidents that have occurred between 1996 and 2001; which pesticides or other ingredients have been involved; when the information was passed to the Advisory Committee on Pesticides; and whether there has been any regulatory outcome as a result of the process. [HL3730]

Lord Falconer of Thoroton

The Health and Safety Executive produces annual information about pesticide incidents investigated by its inspectors. ThePesticide Incidents Report is published each autumn and the results presented to the ACP. The report includes analyses of data collated for previous years and highlights trends in respect of alleged ill health and other non-health related complaints. The most recent report was discussed at the ACP meeting held on 29 November 2001. The 10 most commonly recorded chemical types for active ingredients in alleged ill health incidents for the past 10 years are listed in the report.

Organophosphates remain the most commonly recorded pesticide type, although more recently (from 1999) pyrethroids have featured more frequently. The most commonly recorded pesticide functions are herbicides and fungicides. Data obtained from incidents where pesticides are confirmed to have caused ill health are fed back into the approvals system and taken into account when the active substance is reviewed. Progressively, under European legislation now in place, future incidents reports will provide information on investigated incidents and complaints involving plant protection products (currently referred to as agricultural pesticides under the national system of pesticide approvals) and biocides (currently called non-agricultural pesticides).