asked the Minister for the Environment if he has had discussions with the Minister for Health with regard to the introduction of legislation on the irradiation of food; and if he will make a statement with regard to the environmental impact of pesticides, chemicals, sprays and other substances used on crops and vegetables.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Food Irradiation.
26.
I have no function in relation to the irradiation of food.
Pesticides for use as plant protection products are subject to the provisions of the European Communities (Classification, Packaging and Labelling of Pesticides) Regulations, 1985, which are operated by the Department of Agriculture and Food. Applications made to that Department for clearance to market pesticides must be accompanied by environmental studies. Clearance may be refused, or special conditions may be applied to the use of pesticides, where this is considered appropriate to protect the environment.
The main environmental risks associated with the use of pesticides appear to be associated with once-off incidents, involving accidental spillages or carelessness in the disposal of containers.
Water intended for human consumption is required to meet stringent quality standards under the European Communities (Quality of Water Intended for Human Consumption) Regulations, 1988. The standards for pesticides cover insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, PCBs (Polychlorinated Biphenyls) and PCTs (Polychlorinated Terphenyls). Maximum admissible concentrations are established for these products, where considered separately or in total. My Department are not aware of any pollution of drinking water by, or exceedance of the statutory quality standard for, pesticides and related products.
No problems in relation to pesticides have been found in general water quality studies and I understand that samples frequently had concentrations less than detection limits.