PAN International Website

PESTICIDES: YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW

A recent survey has found that more chemicals are used to grow food in Britain than in any other major industrialised country. The government’s Pesticide Residues Committee routinely finds pesticide residues in human tissue and breast milk.

New research has found that the greatest reproductive effects from some pesticides may arise from exposure to very low doses.

WHAT YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO KNOW

Currently there is no mandatory requirement for pesticide users to:

notify the public before or after spraying (except for a very few restricted substances)

give the public information on the chemical products used, or on the field spray history (even when requested)

leave buffer zones between the areas sprayed and local residents (even if residents are under medical care) although there is equivalent provision to protect water courses

 
This questionnaire is part of a UK campaign - please contact your regional PAN office if this issue is of concern in your country.
1. Are you concerned about pesticide residues in food, water or the environment?
YES    

COMMENT 
NO  
2. When pesticides are used locally (on footpaths, verges, paths, parks and fields, public buildings, your workplace etc) do you believe you should have the right to advance, and on-site, notice of what the chemicals are, and when they’re applied?
YES    

COMMENT 
NO  
3. Do you believe you should have the right to a ‘no-spray’ zone between yourself and areas sprayed?
YES    

COMMENT 
NO  
4. Do you believe you should have the right to know what pesticides have been used in the production of your food, ie, should food labels carry this information, or guide you to it (via a website for example)?
YES    

COMMENT 
NO  
5. Do you believe the government should be obliged to disclose any new information reported to them by agrochemical manufacturers indicating harmful health effects of approved pesticides?
YES    

COMMENT 
NO  
6. Some officials involved in the registration of pesticides and the monitoring of pesticide-related ill-health may have commercial interests in the agrochemical industry (ie. companies that produce pesticides). Do you believe the government should be obliged to disclose these interests? 
YES    

COMMENT 
NO  
7. We are exposed to pesticides through our food, water and the environment. Do you believe you should be informed by government of the total of all pesticides you are exposed to?
YES    

COMMENT 
NO  
Your details
Title / Forename
Surname / Gender
Address
Town / City
County
Country
Postcode
Email
We have made the email address a required field to add credibility to this survey. Your contact details will not be passed on to any other organisation and is only for the purposes of this study. 
    We may contact you to provide further information on the effects of pesticides in the future. If you do not wish to be contacted by PAN UK please tick this box.
Revised January 2004