A German expert committee on environmental issues is calling for the introduction of a national programme to lower pesticide usage to reduce environmental pollution. The committee, made up of seven environmental experts, also asks for more advice to be provided on pesticide usage for farmers and consumers(1). In a separate move, the German Ministry of Health is proposing a ban on non-professional use of most household pesticide sprays which could be in force by the end of the year(2). Pesticides exempted are likely to be: natural pyrethrin; allethrin; bioallethrin; S-bioallethrin; piperonyl butoxide; bioresmethrin; dichlorvos; and benzyl benzoate. The Ministry of Health was prompted to take action following reports by the German Federal Institute for Public Health (see PN 29 p3.).
1. Agrow No 254, 19 April 1996, p13.
2. Ibid p.14.
[This article first appeared in Pesticides News No. 32, June 1996, page 17]