Archived press release

Uk votes to keep highly toxic pesticide

19 March 2003

The highly toxic pesticide aldicarb will continue to be used on vegetables in the UK following a decision by European farm ministers yesterday [1]. Friends of the Earth has learned that UK Agriculture Minister Lord Whitty voted in favour of the compromise position which allows eight member states including the UK to continue using aldicarb on some vegetable crops for so-called "essential use".

Friends of the Earth pointed out that the decision made a mockery of the EU review of pesticides, which states that "essential use" should not be granted if the substance has harmful effects on human or animal health and should only be allowed where no efficient alternatives exist.

In the UK aldicarb will continue to be authorised for use on potatoes, parsnips, carrots, onions and `ornamentals' (decorative plants). The "essential use" status has been granted because it was argued that alternatives are not available. But Friends of the Earth today challenged that, pointing out that major retailers in the UK have already prohibited its use on potatoes and have found suitable alternatives [2].

Aldicarb is used to kill insects and nematodes on crops. It is a highly toxic pesticide and is classified by the World Health Organisation as "extremely hazardous". It works on the nervous system in a similar way to organophosphates. Residues of aldicarb have been found in food exceeding safety levels for young children [3].

Residues can be reduced by peeling potatoes rather than eating them in their skins, but the Government withdrew advice on peeling fruit and vegetables last year. Aldicarb was recently found in samples of chips from fish and chip shops [4]. Aldicarb is also potentially very harmful to farmland wildlife. It is estimated that one granule is enough to kill a small bird [5].

Alternatives to aldicarb include other chemical control methods and changes in farming methods, such as crop rotation, and using diverse vegetable varieties.

The decision is good news for pesticide company Bayer who have been promoting their aldicarb-based product `Temik' with full page adverts in the farming press.

Friends of the Earth real food campaigner Sandra Bell said:

"By keeping this highly toxic substance on the market in the UK Lord Whitty has put the interests of the pesticide companies above the interests of consumers and the environment. How can he argue that a pesticide is essential when major retailers have already managed to prohibit its use by their suppliers?

"The review of aldicarb has been going on for years. The Government should have used this time to ensure that safe non-chemical means of pest and disease control were available to farmers"

Notes

[1] The 2494th session of the Council of the European Union (AGRICULTURE AND

FISHERIES) took place on Monday 17 March (15h00) and Tuesday 18 March 2003 (10h00), in Brussels. See report at www.pesticides.gov.uk

[2] Tesco has removed aldicarb from its Natures Choice protocol for potatoes. Tesco told Farmers Weekly (31.01.03) that "Alternative nematicides" have, to date, not given rise to detectable residue levels in the final product". Waitrose has told Friends of the Earth that it does not allow the use of aldicarb on its potatoes.

[3] Pesticides Safety Direcorate (1999) Variability of Aldicarb Residues in Potatoes.

[4] Pesticides Residues Committtee, Pesticide Residues Monitoring Report, Third Quarter Results 2002 (July - September).

[5] EC Scientific Committee on Plants (1998). Opinion of the Scientific Committee on Plants regarding the inclusion of Aldicarb in annex 1 to Directive 91/414/EEC concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market (SCP/ALDIC/041-Final).

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust