Nuvan is the proprietary name for a pesticide preparation which is based on dichlorvos which is used in Ireland as an ectoparasiticide (sheep dips and poultry pest control) as a plant protection product and as a general purpose industrial and household insecticide.
Because of toxicological problems and of reports of evaluations at EC level and by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, my Department have called up — under the EC Classification, Packaging and Labelling Regulations — all pesticide products based on dichlorvos including Nuvan. The products will be subjected to in-depth toxicological and ecotoxicological evaluation. It is expected that these results will be available in July next.
If on evaluation dichlorvos (Nuvan) poses an unacceptable risk to man or to the environment, the necessary remedial action will be taken to remove such chemicals from the market.
There are strict controls on the use of this product in the United States and in the United Kingdom. Dichlorvos is also being examined at present by specialised experts at EC level. An early report from the group is expected.
