Vol. 492 No. 6
89 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the regulations, if any, in place in relation to substances hazardous to health which may occur particularly on, and in the vicinity of, golf courses, arising from the application in that environment of intensive fertilisation techniques alongside the use of proprietary herbicides and pesticides in some instances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14745/98]
The European Communities (Authorisation, Placing on the Market, Use and Control of Plant Protection Products) Regulations, 1994 to 1997 specify the requirements and conditions for the authorisation of plant protection products for agricultural as well as amenity uses. Such products, which include herbicides and pesticides, may only be used if they are authorised in accordance with specific requirements set down in EU legislation. The legislation requires that when these products are properly applied they will have no unacceptable effect on plants or. plant products, no unacceptable influence on the environment in general and, in particular, no harmful effect on human or animal health or on groundwater, including drinking water. With regard to fertilisers, my Department implements Regulations regarding quality, standards and information on packaging. The use of plant protection products in a manner other than specified on the approved label instructions is illegal.
