Dan Neville
Question:217 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he plans to ban weedkillers containing triazine chemicals. [23685/01]
Written Answers. - Weed Control Ban.
An EU standard is in place to guarantee that water intended for human consumption is safe. To this end thresholds have been set for the presence in water of active substances, including triazines. Monitoring undertaken in France showed that the content of atrazine and related substances in ground and surface water substantially exceeded the permitted thresholds and prompted the French authorities to impose a ban on use of atrazine and other triazine herbicides from September 2002.
Monitoring work undertaken by the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, indicated no contamination of surface or ground water with triazine compounds in Ireland. In Ireland simazine and atrazine are the two most commonly used triazine herbicides. Simazine is used for weed control around fruit trees, soft fruit plantations and ornamentals. The main use of atrazine is for weed control in maize, a crop that is grown on only a limited scale here. Simazine and atrazine are the subject of ongoing comprehensive reviews at EU level. The reviews include detailed risk assessments in relation to effects on human and animal health and impact on the environment. On completion of the EU reviews the Department will consider what action, if any, needs to be taken.