asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the examination which took place of a herbicide chemical product (details supplied) prior to its sale in Ireland, and if he is satisfied that procedures in this regard are adequate.
Written Answers. - Herbicide Chemical Products.
58.
The European Communities (Classification, Packaging and Labelling of Pesticides) Regulations, 1985, of 2 December 1985 provide that pesticides cannot be placed on the market or used unless the relevant data regarding human and environmental safety have been submitted to and approved by the Minister for Agriculture and Food. In the case of over 2,000 pesticides which were on the market prior to 2 December 1985, initial data had to be notified by 30 June 1986 and final, conclusive data to be notified on a date to be specified by me in accordance with priority of the products.
The pesticide in question was notified to my Department which on examination of the initial data supplied was satisfied that adequate instructions were given regarding its handling and use. A special warning is included with the product regarding the importance of cleaning all traces of the product from application equipment immediately after use. Instructions are given to wash the equipment twice with a bleach solution containing 0.025 per cent available chlorine and a warning is also given that extreme care must be taken to avoid drift of spray onto nearby broad-leafed crops or land intended for cropping. Trials were carried out by the supplier under the supervision of An Foras Talúntais. These showed that application equipment, cleansed in accordance with instructions and subsequently used in the treatment of sugar beet, did not give rise to phytotoxic symptoms. In addition, I am informed that at meetings with various interested groups the supplier gave advice on operating procedures regarding cleansing and avoiding drift.