Written question asked by Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative) on Tuesday, 16 June 2026, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 30 June 2026. It was answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Labour) on Thursday, 25 June 2026 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Pesticides

Question: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the ban on pesticides on (1) agriculture, and (2) insect life; and whether they plan to review the use of pesticides in pet parasite medications.

Answer

Pesticides are strictly controlled in the UK. A pesticide may only be placed on the market in Great Britain if the active substance is approved, and the product has been authorised by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which regulates pesticides in the UK. This only happens following a thorough scientific risk assessment that concludes all safety standards are met. Pesticides that pose unacceptable risks are not authorised.

Veterinary medicines follow a different regulatory framework to pesticides, balancing benefits of product use against environmental impacts. The Veterinary Medicines Directorate is analysing responses to an eight‑week call for evidence on certain parasiticides and supporting international environmental risk assessment work.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: HL1022
Session: 2026-27
Subjects: Pesticides
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk

Pesticides

Secondary information

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