Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 30 Jan 1990

Vol. 394 No. 8

Written Answers. - Use of Pesticide Preparation.

Roger T. Garland

Ceist:

168 Mr. Garland asked the Minister for the Marine if he will make a statement on the use of Nuvan, a chemical which is used in sheep dips, poultry pest control products and fish farming operations; if there are any controls or restrictions on its use; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this chemical has been banned in the United States and that there are strict controls on its use in the United Kingdom; and if he has any plans for its banning or restriction in this country.

Minister for the Marine (Mr. Wilson)

Nuvan is the proprietary name for a pesticide preparation which is based on dichlorvos and which is used, inter alia, to control sea-lice in farmed salmon.

Because of toxicological problems and of reports of evaluations — at EC level and by the United States Environmental Protection Agency — the Department of Agriculture has called up under the EC Classification, Packaging and Labelling Regulations all pesticide products based on dichlorvox including Nuvan. The products will be subjected to indepth toxicological and ecotoxicological evaluation.

If, on evaluation, dichlorvos (Nuvan) poses an unacceptable risk to man or to the environment the necessary remedial action will be taken to remove such chemicals from the market.

In the meantime, and pending the findings of current studies, my Department are continuing their efforts to ensure that there is stringent control and vigilance over the use of Nuvan in the fish farming industry. In addition to the existing reporting requirements of the licences issued by my Department, enhanced controls were put in place in June 1989 covering e.g. safe disposal of surpluses and containers, prior notification of use and comprehensive record keeping.

I would add, in relation to Nuvan, that its active ingredient dichlorvox does not persist in the marine environment as it breaks down in sea-water; very little dichlorvos enters the salmon flesh where in any event it would be rapidly broken down. Therefore, there is no human health hazard from dichlorvos to the consumers of farmed salmon.

Nuvan is not banned in the United States. In the United Kingdom, the Government in July 1989 granted a product licence for the use of the substance in salmon farming. As already indicated, the parallel procedure is in train in this country where the National Drugs Advisory Board is the assessor for a product licence for Nuvan.