Why Control The Use Of Pesticides?
Pesticides are intended to destroy therefore they can possibly harm people and the environment. There are law that control the advertising, sale, supply, storage and use of pesticides.
Current Regulations Include:
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, And Rodenticide Act (1947)
Federal Environmental Pesticide Control Act (1972)
Toxic Substances Control Act (1976)
Control Of Pesticides Regulations (1986)
Approval Of Pesticides
For a pesticide to be approved, Ministers in five particular Government Departments must be satisfied that the pesticide is safe to humans, animals and the environment. For the company to market their product, they have to provide an extensive range of scientific data that is assesed by the Advisory Commitee on Pesticdes.
This assesment includes:
how poisonous the pesticide is in the long and short term
how its effects can build up if used regularly
effects that could emerge in the future
effects on the environment
If the pesticide is approved it will state:
what the pesticide can be used on
what doses can be used
precautions
Controls On Handling And The Use Of Pesticides
Users and suppliers of pesticides must be trained and obtain a Government recognised certificate of competence. An employer must give appropriate instruction and guidance to employees using pesticides.
Government controls to users and suppliers are explained in two statutory Codes of Practice called the yellow and green code. These codes are issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF).
Yellow Code - covers all aspects of storage, supply, sale and transport.
Green Code - for the safe use of pesticides on farms and holdings, produced in co-operation with the Health and Safety Commission.
Fees and levies are payed by the manufacturers of pesticides to cover the cost of approval, monitoring their use and residues in food and checking wildlife poisoning incidents. In 1994/1995, this cost the UK industry about £9.5 million.
