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Written question asked by David Drew (Labour) on Tuesday, 13 July 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 21 July 2004. It was answered by Alun Michael (Labour) on Wednesday, 21 July 2004 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list the cases of human pesticide poisoning mentioned by the Right honourable Member for Cardiff South and Penarth in his broadcast comments on Farming Today of 17th June; in each case (a) who was the investigating agency and (b) what information from medical practitioners was obtained; and whose conclusion it was that illness was found not to be due to the effects of pesticides. - Includes ref to PIAP annual report available at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/fod/pir0203.pdf.
Answer

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the cases of human pesticide poisoning mentioned by the right hon. Member for Cardiff, South and Penarth (Alun Michael) in his broadcast comments on Farming Today of 17 June; in each case (a) who was the investigating agency and (b) what information from medical practitioners was obtained; and whose conclusion it was that illness was found not to be due to the effects of pesticides. [184435] Alun Michael: It would be quite wrong for me to release the individual case details of the 60 incidents referred to in my broadcast. They were investigated by the Field Operations Directorate of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and detail of individual incidents is presented to the Advisory Committee on Pesticides to inform the pesticides approvals process. Cases of alleged ill health caused by the use of a pesticide are investigated by the HSE or the Local Authorities. Reports are then submitted to the Pesticide Incidents Appraisal Panel (PIAP) for their assessment. The membership of PIAP includes medical practitioners and a representative from the Department of Health. PIAP considers individual incident and case reports to identify if there is a link between exposure and ill health which may indicate a trend to inform the regulatory system. Medical records are only obtained from GPs and hospital doctors with the consent of the subject. PIAP considers clinical information as it is recorded in medical files. The details of the results and conclusions are available in the latest PIAP annual report available at: http:// www.hse.gov.uk/fod/pir0203.pdf

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
424 c251W; 184435
Session
2003-04
Subjects
Agriculture Doctors Health hazards Health and Safety Executive Poisoning Medical records Pesticides Advisory Committee on Pesticides Residues Pesticides Incidents Appraisal Panel
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk