Memorandum submitted by Helen Bower (Z29)
1. Significant progress has been made because
elements of the Voluntary Initiative have been incorporated into
the Assured Products schemes and protocols. This gives added weight
to the initiative but also assures take up of the elements regarding
pesticide choice and application.
2. The National Register of Spray Operators
has also ensured, because it incorporates an in-service ongoing
training requirement that operators are kept up to date with current
practice in selection and application of products.
3. There has been, due to the review of
pesticides programme, a much-reduced choice of pesticide and agrochemical
available to the grower. This has not only weeded out duplications
of product but also the ones whose approval may not have succeeded
because of environmental or efficacy concerns.
4. Consequently the value of a Pesticide
Tax or indeed the need for such a tax is diluted as:
(b) The number of products it could be applied
to is reduced
5. Environmental considerations and alternatives
that form part of the VI and the BASIS appraisals form a valid
argument against the implementation of such a tax and could draw
down criticism that it was being introduced purely for cosmetic
or for PR consideration.
8 October 2004
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