Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 24 May 2001

Vol. 537 No. 1

Written Answers. - Plant Protection Products.

John Bruton

Question:

104 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if Vinclozolin is in use as a fungicide here; if traces of it have been found in food samples taken here; and if it has adverse effects on reproductive capacity of animals and humans. [15475/01]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

Vinclozolin is used as a fungicide in Ireland. Its residues are found in food on sale in Ireland. The results of the annual monitoring programme have been published since 1990.

Vinclozolin is under review by the EC under Council Directive 91/414/EEC international review programme for plant protection products. The final decision with respect to inclusion in Annex 1 of this directive and with respect to toxicological classification has not yet been agreed. The current draft report of the Standing Committee on Plant Health (5038/VI/98-rev 0, Appendix II, 27 April 2001) states that Vinclozolin causes infertility in male rats by feminisation of the male foetus and alterations in the inner and outer male genital organs. The no adverse effect level for these effects was 5 mg/kg/day. There was no evidence of any such effect in rabbit studies. The Scientific Committee for Plants was asked to give an opinion on the risk to man from exposure to this substance. It replied that there was sufficient evidence to establish a mode of action by which the reproductive effects were mediated. It concluded that there was no evidence to suggest that man is more sensitive than rats to these effects and that it is unlikely that a single dose could induce a developmental effect, SCP/VINCLO/ 019-Final, 28 October 1999.

The proposed acceptable daily intake is 0.005 mg/kg bw/day based on the two year rat feeding study NOAEL of 1.2 mg/kg/day. A 250 fold safety factor was used. This gives a wide margin of safety to the NOAEL for reproductive effects.