APPENDIX 17
Letter to the Committee Chairman from
the National Association of Agricultural Contractors (B 18)
I am writing to you as Chairman of the Agriculture
Select Committee as I understand you are holding a short enquiry
on the withdrawal by MAFF of OP sheep dips pending the introduction
of new containers.
Our members dip or spray a large proportion
of the sheep dipped or sprayed in the UK. Before the banning of
OPs in their present containers virtually all our contractors
used OP sheep dips as the most effective against scab. OPs also
pose much lower levels of risk of water pollution compared with
the synthetic pyrethroid alternative. No NAAC members that dip
or spray sheep have had any symptoms of OP poisoning. Our experience
suggests that OP sheep dip concentrates handled by trained operators
are not a risk to the user.
There is now a potentially serious animal welfare
problem until new containers are approved. In addition the risk
of water pollution by the use of SPs is much increased.
Prior to effective banning of OPs only trained
operators could purchase OP concentrate. There were no restrictions
on who could use it and this may have contributed to MAFF's decision.
Since we can demonstrate that in the hands of
trained operators there is little risk from using OPs in existing
packaging, would it not be possible as an interim measure to allow
the continued use of OPs in existing packaging, providing it was
only used by trained operators.
17 March 2000
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