John Gormley
Question:78 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason organophosphates have not been banned here in spite of the ban in Britain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9404/00]
Written Answers. - Chemical Ban.
The following is the position with regard to organophosphates by reference to the areas of pesticides plant protection and veterinary medicines.
I am not aware of any ban in the UK on the use of organophosphates in plant protection. A review of the registrations for plant protection products containing a number of organophosphate compounds is under way in the UK.
Because of concerns in relation to possible risks for consumers, in 1998 I initiated a review of the registrations for pesticides containing the organophosphate active substances chlorfenvinphos, demeton-S-methyl, demeton-S-methylsulfone, disulfoton, phorate and quinalaphos. Only in the case of chlorfenvinphos was the data necessary for the purposes of the review submitted. The registrations for plant protection products containing the other five active substances were revoked with effect from 15 September 1998. An EU initiative involving the review of all organophosphates used for plant protection in the EU has overtaken the review of chlorfenvinphos.
In accordance with Commission Regulation (EC) No 451/2000 of 28 February 2000, laying down the detailed rules for the implementation of the second and third stages of the work programme referred to in Article 8 (2) of Council Directive 91/414/EEC (OJ No L55/25 of 29 February 2000), a review of all organophoshate compounds used in plant protection, as well as certain other compounds, has been initiated. That regulation designated Ireland as rapporteur for three of the 70 organophosphate compounds to be reviewed, fonofos, temephos and mephosfolan.
The competent authority in Ireland under veterinary medicines legislation for the approval of organophosphate sheep dips is the Irish Medicines Board. This approval process covers the quality, safety and efficacy of the particular product in question. I understand that the IMB is currently engaged in reviewing the report of the UK Committee on Toxicity in order to determine what action, if any, will be required in this coun try, particularly in relation to the safety of users of concentrated product.