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PESTICIDES REGULATIONS FAIL TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH
06 Sep 2000
Regulations setting out the approval process for pesticides are so flawed that they fail to
protect the public's health and the environment says Friends of the Earth in a new report
published today. Later today (Wednesday) the government's Advisory Committee on
Pesticides (ACP) is expected to unveil its own guide on the pesticide approval process at
its first ever 'open meeting'.
Friends of the Earth has identified a number of flaws with the approval process including:
- excessive secrecy and the lack of opportunity for public participation;
- inadequate consideration of vulnerable groups such as unborn babies;
- no consideration of less toxic alternatives to pesticides put forward by industry;
- inadequate research on environmental impact of pesticides;
- slow review of old pesticides that would not meet modern safety requirements.
Sandra Bell, pesticides campaigner at Friends of the Earth said:
"The pesticides approval process is fundamentally flawed. The whole system
needs a radical change with the precautionary approach at its core. Too many
dangerous pesticides are still being sold. The Government should ban them, and
put more resources into finding ways of controlling pests which don't threaten
human health or the environment.
"Holding a few ACP meetings in public does not address the fact that people
have no opportunity to participate in the process - despite the fact that we are
all exposed to pesticides in our food, in our gardens and in our homes".
Today's ACP meeting is being held on 6 September, 2000 at 2pm in the Tempest Anderson
Hall, Museum Gardens, York. The Chairman and Members will discuss the functions of the
Committee and other matters with people who wish to attend.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
[1]. A summary of the report is available. Copies available on request - 020 7490 1555.
[2]. A NOP poll, commissioned by FOE and published in June 2000, showed that 86% of
people do not want pesticide residues in their food.
Contact details:
Friends of the Earth
26-28 Underwood St.
LONDON
N1 7JQ
Tel: 020 7490 1555
Fax: 020 7490 0881
Web: www.foe.co.uk/feedback.html
