Six key UK farming and food chain organisations1 led by the Crop Protection Association have joined forces in urging the coalition Government not to scrap or weaken the role of two key committees responsible for providing independent advice on pesticide issues.
Recent discussions with senior officials at Defra, HSE and the Chemicals Regulation Directorate have indicated that the future of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides (ACP) and the Pesticide Residues Committee (PRC) could be at risk under the Government’s cost-cutting review of quangos and committees.
In a joint letter to Defra Secretary Caroline Spelman, the six organisations have highlighted the critical role of both Committees in ensuring public confidence in the regulation and use of pesticides.
"Modern crop protection products have a key role to play in safeguarding the quality, availability and affordability of our food supply. But the use of pesticides remains a high profile area, which can involve sensitive and emotive issues and is regularly subjected to public scrutiny. It is therefore important to be able to demonstrate that the processes in place to control their registration and use are scientifically robust and transparent, particularly at a time of heightened concern over food security and rising food prices," said Dominic Dyer, CPA chief executive.
"The Advisory Committee on Pesticides performs an essential role providing independent, expert advice directly to Ministers on all pesticide matters, while the work of the Pesticide Residues Committee over the past 10 years has helped put the issue of residues into perspective against the health benefits of a plentiful and affordable supply of fresh fruit and vegetables.
"We recognise that Ministers face tough spending decisions, but it would be false economy to do away with the bodies which have helped make such significant progress in improving the level of public confidence in pesticide controls," concluded Mr Dyer.
