Vol. 502 No. 6
165 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if organochlorine pesticides, in particular lindane, are widely used; if so, if any research has been carried out towards the setting of safe standards for its use; if the product or traces thereof have ever been detected in cows' milk or dairy products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9108/99]
The marketing and use of most organochlorine pesticides have been prohibited since 1987. However, a small number of plant protection products containing lindane are permitted for use in the control of insects, as a seed dressing and in timber preservation. The quantities used in 1997 were less than ten tonnes.
Lindane is currently being reviewed in the context of Council Directive 91/414/EEC on the authorisation of plant protection products. A study is being examined in the context of the scientific peer review system established by the European Commission. It is expected this review will be completed later in 1999 and a decision will be taken then on the future use of lindane.
Lindane is among the compounds included in the national monitoring programme for pesticide residues in food. The maximum residue limit, MRL, specified under EU regulations is 0.2mg/kg of fat. In the period 1990 to 1997 some 446 samples of dairy produce were analysed for pesticide residues and none exceeded the prescribed MRL.
