Archived press release

Ban it now! FOE demands action on dangerous pesticide

7 August 2000

Friends of the Earth is today demanding a ban on the dangerous pesticide chlorpyrifos. The move follows the revelation that the Government's own pesticide advisors (the Advisory Committee on Pesticides [ACP]) have recommended that use of chlorpyrifos in home and garden products be revoked and have also raised concerns about the safety levels for the pesticide in food [1]. In 1998 a 67 year old Irishman was killed by chlorpyrifos. He was helping his nephew to re-pot some plants, using the chemical without wearing gloves. Within six days he was dead [2].

A misleading MAFF press release on the issue covered up the extent of the advisors'concerns. But Friends of the Earth wants Ministers to ignore the spin and follow the Committee's advice to ban the home and garden use of the pesticide. FOE also wants the Government to ban its use in farming.

Ministers sought the advice of the ACP about chlorpyrifos after the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a ban in June on its use in domestic products and severe restrictions on farming use [4]. The EPA was particularly concerned about residues of chlorpyrifos in foods commonly eaten by children, including apples and grapes. In the UK residues of chlorpyrifos are regularly found on a wide range of fruit, including apples.
Minutes from the ACP, which met in July, show that members are concerned about the current safety levels for this pesticide, and exposure in the home. But a MAFF press release issued three weeks later claimed that the Committee were satisfied that there was no evidence for concern and that “no immediate action against chlorpyrifos was indicated at this stage”

Sandra Bell, Real Food Campaigner of Friends of the Earth said:

“Highly toxic chemicals like chlorpyrifos have no place in modern food production or in our homes. The Government must follow the ACP's advice to ban the use of chlorpyrifos in home and garden products. And, to ensure that children's health is not being put at risk from this pesticide, they should go further and revoke its use in agriculture too”.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

[1] The ACP met on 6th July 2000 to consider the action taken by the US Environmental Protection Agency. The minutes - recently made public - record that “the Committee was concerned that the evidence underpinning the proposed ADI (Acceptable Daily Intake) was not as strong as it would like to see. The Committee therefore proposed to urgently request additional data to provide the reassurance sought” The Committee also recommended that amateur home-garden uses of chlorpyrifos should be revoked.

[2] Pesticides Action Network -UK, News Release 09/06/2000 “US Govt Bans Household Pesticide Commonly Used in the UK”

[3] At the time EPA Administrator Carol M Browner said:
“Chlorpyrifos is part of a class of older, riskier pesticides, some going back 50 years. Exposure to these kinds of pesticides can cause neurological effects. Now that we have completed the most extensive evaluation ever conducted on the potential health hazards from a pesticide, it is clear that the time has come to take action to protect our children from this chemical"

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust