In response to public concern, government
ministers have initiated a high priority review of all anti-cholinesterase
compounds (mostly organophosphate and carbamate pesticides) for use in
agriculture and non-agricultural pesticides. The review of Ministry of
Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) approved products will be prepared by the
Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD) and Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
approved products by the Pesticides Registration Section (PRS). The results will
be considered by the Advisory Committee on Pesticides (ACP), which advises the
government on all product approvals.
Ministers have requested this review
because OPs have been the subject of public concern, that have centred not only
on the possibility of acute effects resulting from these compounds, but also on
the possibility of adverse effects resulting from chronic low dose exposure. To
meet these concerns, this review will focus initially on the well-established
effects of anti-cholinesterase compounds. To do this the ACP will review data
supporting individual active ingredients and follow this with an assessment of
cumulative exposures to these compounds as a group. The review will cover all
anti-cholinesterase pesticides (21 OP insecticides, 2 OP fungicides, 13
carbamates and 1 carbamoyl triazole) that are approved under the Control of
Pesticides Regulations (1986) by either PSD or HSE.
The review will not cover these compounds for other purposes,
for example, human and veterinary medicine (including use in sheep dips and head
lice shampoos) because they are authorised and subject to scrutiny under
separate legislation. Human medicines come under the remit of the
Medicines Control Agency, and veterinary medicines come under the Veterinary
Products Committee (VPC).
According to Dr JM Rutter Chief Executive of the Veterinary
Medicines Directorate, reviews of OP veterinary medicine sheep dips have been
addressed elsewhere: "The VPC has already carried out two reviews of OP sheep
dips in 1993 and 1997, which said OPs are safe to use if the correct protective
clothing is worn." Dr Rutter adds: "The government has asked for a review of
veterinary medicines other than sheep dips which have an OP as an active
ingredient."
The PSD/HSE review is likely to take three years to complete.
There have already been numerous studies that are critical of OPs. The
Pesticides Trust [now PAN UK] will be submitting information. There is enough evidence to
suggest an immediate phase-out of these chemicals.
Any interested parties are invited to
submit information to: Darren Flynn, Reviews Branch, PSD, Mallard House, Kings
Pool, 3 Peasholme Green, York, YO1 7PX (for agricultural products). PRS, HSE,
Magdalen House, Stanley Precinct, Bootle, Merseyside, L20 3QZ (for
non-agricultural products).
[This
article first appeared in Pesticides News No. 42,
December 1998, page 15]