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A new initiative to help tackle sheep dip pollution has been launched this week.

Philip Rees, independent Chairman of the Sheep Dip Steering Group which will be leading on the action plan, said: "The Sheep Dip Pollution Reduction Programme has a number of key actions to minimise the environmental risks from sheep dip chemicals, whilst also meeting the needs of the sheep farming industry."

The Environment Agency and Veterinary Medicines Directorate have developed the action plan following consultation with a wide range of stakeholders including the farming industry and angling and conservation groups.

The first meeting of the Sheep Dip Steering Group was held this Monday (21 August 2006). Members were briefed by the National Farmers Union on the 'STOP every DROP' campaign. This forms one element of the action plan and represents immediate voluntary action that can be taken by the farming industry to ensure farmers and contractors adopt best practice when using dip products.

There was consensus from the group to move forward with a study to identify the right mix of voluntary and regulatory measures to provide a long-term solution to the sheep dip problem. Options will be assessed taking into account animal health and welfare, the environment, human health and the impact on rural economies. Links will be made with proposed industry led sheep scab eradication initiatives.

Other key actions include:

monitoring rivers and streams nationally in order to measure the extent of the problem and to provide a baseline against which improvements can be measured
carrying out research to provide strong evidence to support any decision making around sheep dip pollution
Philip Rees continued: "Over the next twelve months the Environment Agency and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate will work together with the industry and angling and conservation groups to tackle this problem. In 2005, pollution incidents involving sheep dips caused significant damage to our environment and attracted fines of up to £38,000."

The steering group will be responsible for monitoring the action plan, reporting on progress after six months and again after one year. It is made up of representatives from the farming industry, manufacturers of dips, the wool industry, veterinarians, angling and wildlife interests, the government and relevant regulators.

Sheep dip products, especially those containing the chemical cypermethrin, can have a damaging impact on the environment. For example, in one incident more than 100 rare white-clawed crayfish were killed from sheep dip contamination on a stream in Cumbria. Between January 2004 and August 2005, over thirty sheep dip incidents causing major or significant damage on water quality were investigated in England and Wales. The majority of these incidents were in Wales and, most appeared to be the result of the routine use, mainly of cypermethrin but occasionally diazinon, rather than the disposal of used dip.

The use of sheep dip products containing cypermethrin have been currently by the VMD following advice from the Environment Agency and other bodies.

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