On 2 September 1998, 24
environment/consumer/union organisations from across Europe-part of the
Pesticides Action Network (PAN) Europe-co-signed a declaration calling for a
ban on the use and production of the organochlorine insecticide lindane (see
PN41 p. 7).
The Austrian authorities are finalising
a detailed monograph covering the health and environmental effects on lindane on
behalf of the European Union. When the EU receive this report, they will
circulate it to all relevant EU ministers for comment under Council Directive
91/414. PAN Europe (which includes the Pesticides Trust [now PAN UK], PAN Germany and PAN
Belgium) sent a letter to all EU agriculture, health and environment ministers
expressing concern about lindane because it is a hazardous and persistent
chemical and reiterated a call for a ban.
In the coming months, the monograph on lindane will be
subject to scrutiny by regulators. However, it is not clear yet whether public
interest groups will have access to the full document. PAN Europe will be
following the issue with interest and will report back in the next issue of
Pesticides News. (DB)
The groups signing the letter to the EU
ministers: Pesticides Trust (UK) Centre for Occupational and Environmental
Health (UK) Centro Internazionale Croevia (Italy) European Environmental Bureau
Food Commission (UK) Friends of the Earth (London) Friends of the Earth
(Germany) General Workers Union (Denmark) Green Network (National Office, UK)
Green Network (Lincoln, UK) Greenpeace International, European Unit Greenpeace
Exeter Laboratories (UK) Hazards Magazine (UK) Legambiente (Italy) London
Hazards Centre Pesticides Action Network Belgium Pesticides Action Network
Germany Pesticides Exposure Group of Sufferers (UK) Rural, Agricultural and
Allied Workers of the Transport and General Workers Union (UK) Soil Association
(UK) Stichting Natuur en Milieu, (Netherlands) UNISON the public service union
(UK) Womens Environmental Network (UK) World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Europe
WWF Germany.
[This
article first appeared in Pesticides News No. 42,
December 1998, page 18]