§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her answer of 12 December 2001,Official Report, column 919-20W, on carbofuran chlorfenvinphos, if she will set out the measures she is taking to help the trade and user groups. [27841]
§ Margaret Beckett[holding answer 16 January 2002]: My noble Friend Lord Whitty met representatives of the National Farmers Union and the brassica industry on 19 December to discuss the problems that would be faced by trade and user groups. My noble Friend accepts that there would be severe consequences for swede and turnip growers putting them at a serious disadvantage with European competitors. While the approval for carbofuran expired as planned on 31 December 2001, he has agreed, exceptionally, to allow the approval for chlorfenvinphos to continue until 25 July 2003, the date the use of the compound will expire throughout Europe. Action has already been taken by the Pesticide Safety Directorate to maintain the chlorfenvinphos approvals. However, industry is being urged, as a matter of urgency, to find alternatives.
§ Mr. PickthallTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will ensure that the ban on the use of chlorfenvinphos and carbofuran, used in the control of cabbage root fly, comes into force at the same time as in the rest of the EU. [27044]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 17 January 2002]: Pesticide products containing chlorfenvinphos and carbofuran have been reviewed as part of the general review in the UK of all organophosphate pesticides. The review was undertaken because of public concerns about the potential toxicity of this group of chemicals. Only for chlorfenvinphos has there been strong lobbying to retain its use on swedes and turnips. The approval was due to expire on 31 December 2001 but in the light of strong representations from growers at the end of last year my noble Friend Lord Whitty agreed to extend the approval until 25 July 2003, the date when the approval will expire throughout Europe. This should allow industry time to find alternatives. Unlike chlorfenvinphos, no strong representations have been made for the approval of carbofuran to continue. This approval therefore expired as planned on 31 December.
§ Mr. PickthallTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research her Department has sponsored into alternatives to chlorfenvinphos and carbofuran. [27046]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 17 January 2002]: None. DEFRA funds generic research into alternatives to conventional pesticides, for example, biological controls, but not into specific chemical alternatives which are primarily for industry to fund. I understand that the brassica industry has done some work to find alternative methods to control cabbage root fly and is being urged to continue this work.
796W
§ Mr. PickthallTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effect on the competitiveness of UK vegetable growers if chlorfenvinphos and carbofuran are banned in the UK before they are banned in the rest of the EU. [27045]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 17 January 2002]: My noble Friend Lord Whitty met representatives of the National Farmers Union and the brassica industry on 19 December when the industry's assessment of the impact of the loss of these compounds was discussed.
My noble Friend accepts that growers would be seriously disadvantaged by the loss of these compounds. He has therefore agreed, exceptionally, to allow the approval for chlorfenvinphos to continue until 25 July 2003, the date when the approval will expire throughout Europe. This should ensure that UK growers' competitiveness in Europe is maintained. However industry is being urged, as a matter of urgency, to find alternatives.