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Written question asked by Anne Main (Conservative) on Thursday, 28 January 2016, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 1 February 2016. It was answered by George Eustice (Conservative) on Wednesday, 3 February 2016 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Insecticides

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effects of the use of pyrethroids on crops and invertebrates.

Answer

Pyrethroids are a group of chemicals used to control insect pests in crops. As with all pesticides, pyrethroids are subject to strict regulation and the use of a pyrethroid is only authorised if it will not harm people, will not give rise to unacceptable risks to the environment and is effective against the target pest.

Decisions are made on the basis of assessments of scientific data. This is a two-tier process. The pyrethroid itself is assessed by the European Food Safety Authority. Products containing approved pyrethroids are assessed by the Chemicals Regulation Directorate of the Health and Safety Executive. There are currently several pyrethroids approved at EU level. A number of products containing one or more of these chemicals are authorised in the UK following a satisfactory risk assessment.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
24745
Session
2015-16
Subjects
Crops Invertebrates Insecticides
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk