Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 December 2016
234. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether current legislation is working effectively to prevent illness as a result of application and exposure to farm chemicals, including herbicides containing glyphosate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40321/16]
View answerMy Department is the “Competent Authority” responsible for the approval of pesticides (Plant Protection Products & Biocide Products) and also for the safe use of pesticides. Two dedicated divisions comprised of specialists including human toxicologists, environmental toxicologists, chemists, environmental chemists, efficacy experts and biologists supported by other Divisions of my Department and when necessary, other Departments and State agencies, ensure that Ireland has a robust pesticide approval process. In addition, control of pesticide use in the form of pesticide residue monitoring, pesticide application equipment testing as well as training of operators, distributors and advisers coupled with a rigorous retail wholesale and farm inspection programme ensures a extremely visible presence in the sector. This, coupled with the regulatory process in the EU, which is among the most conservative in the world, provides assurance that consumers, farm operatives and the general public are not at risk from plant protection products and biocides on farm, when used as directed on the labels. The Irish and EU systems are such that the health and welfare of both citizens and the environment takes primacy over other considerations. The removal of hundreds of pesticides from the Irish market (which are still available in other OECD countries) over the last 20 years is testament to this.
In relation to continued approval of glyphosate in the EU, an evaluation was performed by Germany and peer reviewed by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and Member State experts. This review identified the safety profile of glyphosate and considered a recent review conducted by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Reviews conducted by the relevant authorities in New Zealand, Australia and the United States derive similar but less conservative conclusions. In addition a further review of glyphosate by the European Chemicals Agency is currently ongoing. This review will consider the classification of the active substance and should be available in the later part of 2017.
