The 12th annual report of the Advisory
Committee on Pesticides (ACP) covering 1995 has been published. The ACP advises
government ministers on all matters relating to the control of pests, including
the safety and environmental effects of both old and new pesticides.
In 1995, the ACP met on six occasions and considered
applications for the approval of 12 new active ingredients and six others
requiring continuation of existing approvals. It also reviewed seven approved
pesticides and considered a wide range of other pesticides issues, including
suspected poisoning of animals by pesticides and matters relating to residues in
food.
Reviewing older products
Dicofol, isoproturon, tecnazene, vinclozolin, carbaryl,
and copper were reviewed by the ACP. The insecticide carbaryl was considered to
be 'a potential human carcinogen' and is no longer permitted for use as a
control for head lice, in poultry houses and home garden products (see PN 30
p4).
Aquatic fate of antifouling products
The ACP assessed triorganotin (TOT) compounds which
had previously been reviewed in a report produced in 1992. There was concern
that further regulatory action on TOT-based antifouling products, applied to the
hulls of ships and boats, would increase the use of copper-based antifouling
products. The issue remains open as the ACP recommended that current monitoring
of copper in water should continue.
The ACP has re-examined the actions taken after
recommendations made in 1992 concerning TOTs which found these chemicals
continue to cause unacceptable effects on aquatic life in UK waters. Biological
diversity has improved and environmental concentrations of TOTs had decreased in
rivers and estuaries where yachts of less than 25m were present. But the use of
TOT antifouling products on ships greater than 25m, (in particular during
dry-docking operations) was identified as contributing to high concentrations of
tributyltin (TBT) in sediment, and the failure, in some cases, to meet the
Environmental Quality Standard of 2 ng TBT/litre.
The independence of members
The majority of the 12-member ACP has no declared
interests in the agrochemical industry as outlined in a Register of Interests in
the annual report. One however, has a range of research associations with a
number of companies which market pesticides (including-BASF, Ciba-Geigy,
Monsanto, AgrEvo, Rhône-Poulenc). Another had an interest in International
Paints which makes antifouling compounds.
Advisory Committee on Pesticides Annual
Report 1995, MAFF and HSE, HMSO, Tel. (0)171 873 9090, Fax (0)171 873 8200, July
1996, £12.50, 63pp.
[This
article first appeared in Pesticides News No. 33, September 1996,
page 25]