Archived press release

Pesticides regulations fail to protect public health

6 September 2000

Regulations setting out the approval process for pesticides are so flawed that they fail toprotect the public's health and the environment says Friends of the Earth in a new reportpublished today. Later today (Wednesday) the government's Advisory Committee onPesticides (ACP) is expected to unveil its own guide on the pesticide approval process atits 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 systemneeds a radical change with the precautionary approach at its core. Too manydangerous pesticides are still being sold. The Government should ban them, andput more resources into finding ways of controlling pests which don't threatenhuman health or the environment.

"Holding a few ACP meetings in public does not address the fact that peoplehave no opportunity to participate in the process - despite the fact that we areall 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 AndersonHall, Museum Gardens, York. The Chairman and Members will discuss the functions of theCommittee 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% ofpeople do not want pesticide residues in their food.

If you are a journalist seeking press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

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Archived press release

Pesticides regulations fail to protect public health

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