Archived press release

GOVERNMENT TO BAN LINDANE? EU Report Slams Dangerous Insecticide.

15 April 1999

Last December, the Pesticides Trust, Friends of the Earth, UNISON and the Women's Environmental Network wrote to Agriculture Minister Jeff Rooker and Environment Minister Michael Meacher drawing their attention to the report and demanding an immediate ban. The groups have now written to Sir Colin Berry, Chair of the ACP,highlighting their concerns and calling on him to recommend a ban (copies of both letters are available).

Lindane is sold in the UK as a seed and wood treatment and as an insecticidal spray for a number of food crops [2] and is on sale to both companies and individuals. In 1997,100,000kg [3] were used in agriculture.

The Austrian report lists a number of harmful effects of lindane:

.category 3 carcinogenic substance;
.hormone disruption;
.behavioural changes;
.nervous system damage;
.immune system damage;
.birth defects.

Crucial health and environmental data on lindane was not collected before its use was approved, and is still not available. The report says that unless more research is carried out it is impossible to set a safe level of exposure for lindane [4]. Data on toxicity to birds,fish, small mammals and aquatic life is also said to be lacking. Lindane is already banned in Sweden, Denmark and France (in agriculture) and is subject to a long running world wide campaign by the Pesticides Action Network [5].

Despite a safety review in the UK by MAFF in 1996 lindane is still on sale. However, there is growing evidence linking lindane exposure and breast cancer [6], in recent years lindane residues have been found in dairy produce [7].

David Buffin of the Pesticides Trust said:
"It is surprising how little adequate data supports the approval of lindane. The Austrian report shows huge gaps in our knowledge. The Government should follow the example of Sweden and Denmark and ban all uses."

Pete Riley, Food Campaigner with FOE said:
"It is a disgrace that MAFF did not ban this chemical when they reviewed its safety in 1996. This suggests that there is something wrong with the UK's regulatory system. It needs a good shake up - a new approach and new faces who know when to apply the precautionary principle. It will be a disgrace if the ACP refuse to recommend a ban now."

Helen Lynn, Health Coordinator at the Womens Environmental Network (WEN) said:
"The continued environmental exposure of women and their communities to chemicals such as lindane constitutes willful neglect by a Government supposedly committed to what is a basic human right; that is, the right to a healthy living environment".

Jill Day, Co-ordinator of UNISON's national campaign to ban lindane, said:
"Our million women members will support the Austrian approach. The studies that link exposure to lindane with breast cancer continue to concern us. Britain has the highest death rates from breast cancer anywhere in the world, and they continue to rise. The Government should stop the use of this toxic chemical right now."

NOTES TO EDITORS
[1] The monograph was prepared by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry for the EU to assess the inclusion of Lindane in Annex 1 of the EC directive 91/414/EEC (Harmonisation Directive). Copies of the report's summary are available on request.

[2] Lindane is still approved for use on the following: Oilseed rape, apples, sugar beet, wheat, maize,rough grazing, grain stores.

[3] The Pesticide Usage Survey carried out by MAFF gave the following levels of use: annual seed treatments 58,790 kg; all other treatments 41,296 kg.

[4] For carcinogenicity, hormone disruption, behavioural change and immunotoxicity the Austrian report states that neither No Observed Effect Level (NOEL) or No Observed Adverse Effect Level(NOAEL) exist because of lack of data.

[5] Lindane was one of 12 pesticides in "The Dirty Dozen" which the Pesticides Action Network (PAN)wanted banned in the mid-1980s. PAN Europe renewed the demand last year.

[6] A number of studies have suggested a link between lindane and breast cancer. Contact Pesticide Trust for details.

[7] The Working Party on Pesticide Residues reported lindane residues in milk - including infant formula milk and cheese in their 1998 report.

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