Memorandum submitted by Biosciences Federation
(Z27)
INTRODUCTION
1. The Biosciences Federation was founded
in 2002 in order to create a single authority within the life
sciences that decision-makers are able to consult for opinion
and information to assist the formulation of public policy. It
brings together the strengths of 33 member organisations, including
the Institute of Biology, which represents 45 additional affiliated
societies (see Appendix). The organisations that have already
joined the Biosciences Federation represent a cumulative membership
of some 60,000 bioscientists and cover the whole spectrum from
physiology and neuroscience, biochemistry and microbiology to
ecology and agriculture. The Biosciences Federation is a registered
charity (no 1103894).
COMMENTS
2. The Biosciences Federation welcomes the
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee review of progress
made under the Voluntary Initiative, which was introduced in 2001
to achieve the environmental benefits sought by Government as
an alternative to a pesticide tax.
3. The Voluntary Initiative's main achievement
has been to help bring about a greater appreciation of the environmental
impact of pesticides and a change in attitude about pesticide
use throughout the agricultural industry. It is part of a wider
movement that is recognising the importance of protecting biodiversity
and the environment.
4. The Crop Protection Association, which
runs the Voluntary Initiative, has reported good progress to date
in meeting the environmental targets of the Voluntary Initiative.[3]
EU regulations have been continually reducing the number of pesticides
that can be used by farmers and the rate per hectare of application
for many pesticides. Market forces have also driven the reduction—supermarkets
are increasingly demanding food that has not been sprayed with
pesticides.
5. Various bodies and sectors are working
with or alongside the Voluntary Initiative to further its aims.
The Pesticides Safety Directorate (an Executive Agency of Defra)
supports and encourages efforts to reduce the environmental impact
of pesticides in the UK. It is developing the National Pesticides
Strategy, which will aim to "reach a balance between protecting
the environment and sustainable crop protection". BASIS Registration
Ltd is an independent registration, standards and training organisation
set up by the agricultural supply industry to implement various
legislative and code of practice requirements. The National Association
of Agricultural Contractors is developing a number of registers
based on adherence to codes of practice, for example, the Register
of Acid Application Contractors. The Forestry Commission has produced
a bulletin on reducing use of pesticides. There are also clauses
within the UK Woodland Assurance Scheme, which is a form of voluntary
third party certification for sustainable forestry, which requires
participants to be looking at ways of reducing pesticide use.
The standard of pesticide applicators and machinery is also being
improved, with more efficient spray nozzles that reduce spray
drift now available.
6. Contractors have been slower to come
round to the new mindset, but this is changing. BACCS® is
the BASIS Advanced Amenity Contractor Certification Scheme to
raise and maintain standards and good practice for contractors
operating in the amenity and industries sectors of the pesticide
industry. However, contractors, particularly small companies,
have been reluctant to take on the training recommended by the
Voluntary Initiative because it is expensive and not compulsory.
The Voluntary Initiative is attempting to force contractors to
carry out training and best practice by encouraging the customer
(eg Local Authorities, railways, leisure facilities) to demand
it. For example, the Crop Protection Association provides advice
for customers on how they can ensure their contractors adhere
to Voluntary Initiative recommendations. In addition, a training
course for people managing spray operators (called POWER—Protection
of Water, Environment and Recommendations) is being established
by BASIS Registration Ltd, which will have a substantial environmental
component.
OPENNESS
7. The Biosciences Federation is pleased
for this response to be publicly available and, with permission,
will be shortly placing a version on www.bsf.ac.uk. Should the
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee have any queries
regarding this response then they should in the first instance
address them to Catherine Joynson, Policy Co-ordinator, The Biosciences
Federation, email: c.joynson@iob.org, c/o Institute of Biology,
20 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2DZ.
8 October 2004
APPENDIX
MEMBER SOCIETIES OF THE BIOSCIENCES FEDERATION
| Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour
| Genetics Society |
| Biochemical Society | Heads of University Biological Sciences
|
| British Association for Psychopharmacology |
Heads of University Centres for Biomedical Science
|
| British Ecological Society | Institute of Biology
|
| British Lichen Society | Institute of Horticulture
|
| British Mycological Society | Laboratory Animal Science Association
|
| British Neuroscience Association | Linnean Society
|
| British Pharmacological Society | Nutrition Society
|
| British Society of Animal Science | Physiological Society
|
| British Society for Cell Biology | Royal Microscopical Society
|
| British Society for Developmental Biology |
Society for Applied Microbiology |
| British Society for Immunology | Society for Endocrinology
|
| British Society for Medical Mycology | Society for Experimental Biology
|
| British Society for Neuroendocrinology |
Society for General Microbiology |
| British Society for Proteome Research | Society for Reproduction and Fertility
|
| British Toxicological Society | UK Environmental Mutagen Society
|
| Experimental Psychology Society |
|
| |
ADDITIONAL AFFILIATED SOCIETIES REPRESENTED BY THE INSTITUTE
OF BIOLOGY
Anatomical Society of Great Britain & Ireland
| Fisheries Society of the British Isles |
| Association for Radiation Research | Freshwater Biological Association
|
| Association of Applied Biologists | Galton Institute
|
| Association of Clinical Embryologists | Institute of Trichologists
|
| Association of Clinical Microbiologists |
International Association for Plant Tissue Culture &
|
Association of Veterinary Teachers and
| Biotechnology |
| Research Workers | International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation
|
| British Association for Cancer Research |
Society |
| British Association for Lung Research | International Biometric Society
|
| British Association for Tissue Banking |
International Society for Applied Ethology |
| British Biophysical Society | Marine Biological Association of the UK
|
| British Crop Protection Council | Primate Society of Great Britain
|
| British Grassland Society | PSI—Statisticians in the Pharmaceutical Industry
|
| British Inflammation Research Association |
Royal Entomological Society |
| British Marine Life Study Society | Royal Zoological Society of Scotland
|
| British Microcirculation Society | Scottish Association for Marine Science
|
| British Phycological Society | Society for Anaerobic Microbiology
|
| British Society for Allergy Environmental |
Society for Low Temperature Biology |
| and Nutritional Medicine | Society for the Study of Human Biology
|
| British Society for Medical Mycology | Society of Academic & Research Surgery
|
| British Society for Parasitology | Society of Cosmetic Scientists
|
| British Society for Plant Pathology | Society of Pharmaceutical Medicine
|
| British Society for Research on Ageing |
UK Registry of Canine Behaviourists |
| British Society of Animal Science | Universities Federation for Animal Welfare
|
| British Society of Soil Science |
|
| |
3
VI on Track for Success. 4 October 2004. Available at: http://www.voluntaryinitiative.org.uk/Content/News.asp?c=AB
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