Archived press release

Government sheep dip proposals a sham

8 December 1997

The Government's pollution watchdog has been exposed by FOE for proposing new pollution rules which it knows full well will fail. The Environment Agency's declared'preferred method of disposal' for used sheep dip is for the waste chemicals to be taken away by a 'specialist waste contractor' [1] , despite them having acknowledged previously that this is 'likely to be prohibitively expensive for most farmers'. [2] A new FOE survey of waste contractors confirmed this to be the case, quotes averaged £1,000 per dip [3].

The Government is currently facing legal action on groundwater pollution from sheep dip disposal by the European Commission [4].

Peter Riley, FOE agriculture spokesperson commented,

”These proposed regulations seem a cynical attempt to get the European Commission off the Government's back by dumping the problem onto farmers. The real responsibility for disposing of these toxic chemicals should lie with the dip manufacturers who have encouraged farmers to use their products without providing them with the means to dispose of them safely.

“The Government's trying to pull the wool over the Commission's eyes by proposing something that it knows is unworkable. As our survey shows the price of proper disposal is well beyond the pocket of most sheep farmers.”

FOE have put forward a ten point plan to Michael Meacher, Minister of State for the Environment, for solving the health and pollution problems associated with sheep dip chemical use in a letter. The plan [5] includes the following key elements:

• a ban on organophosphate sheep dip chemicals [6]
• producer responsibility for sheep dip chemicals so that dip manufacturers have a duty to ensure that spent dip is managed safely - effectively meaning that the chemicals are 'on lease' to farmers [7]
• increased research into management techniques that eliminate dipping as a means to control sheep scab and fly strike in sheep.

Pete Riley concluded,

“The chemical manufacturers have made huge profits from the sale of sheep dip chemicals over the last five decades. Their uncontrolled use has damaged the environment and the health of sheep farmers. It's high time they took full responsibility for their products and guaranteed that the current generation of dips are collected and disposed of safely”.

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

[1] The Environment Agency press statement (115/97) stated that the new Government Regulations will “come into force in the first half of 1998" to “fully implement the requirements of the 1980 EC Ground water Directive (80/68/EEC)”. The regulations will bring into place controls on the disposal of all liquid wastes to land (a common method for disposing of spent sheep dip) “The Agency's preferred method for disposal of used sheep dip is for farmers to pass it to special waste contractors licenced to deal with such waste “.

[2] In a National Rivers Authority (the predecessors of the Environment Agency) report of January 1994 (“The Disposal of Sheep Dip Waste, Effect on Water Quality”) it was acknowledged the “Disposal to landfill or incineration of sheep dip waste is likely to be prohibitively expensive for most farmers. Not least because of the cost of transport”.

[3] Friends of the Earth surveyed five waste disposal companies in the north of England and asked for a quote for the disposal of a synthetic pyrethroid sheep dip - Robust -which is diluted 1 litre of product to 400 litres of water to treat sheep scab and blowfly strike.

The range of quotes depended on the method of disposal and ranged between £450 and £1480.21 (average £996). Full details of the survey are given below for the disposal of 2,500 litre of spent dip including transport.

Rechem £962.50 to 1062.50 Tankering and incineration

Leigh Environmental £1075 Tankering and Incineration

£1480.21 Containerising and landfill

Shanks ands McEwan £450 Containerising and landfill

E Harper, York £964 Containerising and landfill

A Soil Association survey (“Sheep Dip Disposal; No Room for Complacency”) published in February 1997 concluded “the 'preferred method of disposal', removal off-site by specialist waste contractor would cost a farmer £1000 per average sheep bath “(NB figures for the disposal of organophosphate dips).

[4] Letter dated 28.10.97 to Friends of the Earth from Georges Kremlis, Directorate B Environmental Instruments DGXI concerning a complaint to the EC about contamination of Ground water by sheep dip chemicals (Case 90/5242) states “The Commission will in the meantime continue to pursue the case against the UK, and proceedings will only be closed once it is satisfied the UK has fully and correctly transposed the Directive”.

[5] Friends of the Earth's Ten Point Plan to Solve Sheep Dip Pollution

1. Ban on the use of organophosphate sheep dips to protect farmer's and farm workers's health.

2. Introduction of producer responsibility by manufacturers of sheep dip to ensure their product is disposed of or recycled in a manner to protect human health and the environment by the introduction of chemical leasing where by farmers pay a service charge to manufacturers for the use of the dip chemical and safe handling of spent dip liquids.

3. Introduction of compulsory deposit and return system for sheep dip chemical packaging. This would encourage the re-use of durable containers. Packaging could be returned via agro-chemical suppliers and back loaded to manufacturers.

4. Compulsory registration of all active sheep dip baths with the Environment Agency. Registration would be free to encourage participation by farmers but heavy fines should be introduced for any one failing to register.

5. New powers for the Environment Agency to close sheep dip baths which fail to meet pollution prevention standards.

6. Increase penalties at magistrates courts for sheep dip pollution.

7. MAFF to produce guidance on sheep scab and fly strike prevention and a farmer training programme within 6 months.

8. MAFF should provide capital loans to upgrade dips and boundary fencing.

9. MAFF should fund urgent research into alternatives to dipping sheep in aqueous dips.

10. MAFF, DETR and Environment Agency to fund research into the efficacy of chemical degradation of dips and disposal of the resulting liquor


Copies of the letter to Michael Meacher are available on request.

[6] Organophosphate sheep dips have been linked with serious health problems amongst sheep farmers exposed to the chemicals whilst dipping sheep. They are also toxic to aquatic life.

[7] Synthetic pyrethroids have been introduced as sheep dips because they are safer for farmer to use. However, they are 100 times as toxic as organophosphates to aquatic invertebrates.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust