WRITTEN QUESTION P-1454/96 by Peter Skinner (PSE) to the Commission (31 May 1996)

Subject: Organochlorides and organophosphates and their impact on agricultural workers and the public health of consumers

Along with my fellow MEP, Mark Watts, I would like to invite the comments of the Commission on the issue of organochlorides and organophosphates and their impact on animal health, the health of workers employed in the agricultural industry and the public health of consumers in the EU.

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (11 July 1996)

Organochlorine (OC) and organophosphorus (OP) compounds are, or have been used in agriculture in plant protection products and as ectoparasiticides (e.g. animal dips). Most of them are classified in the framework of Directive 67/548/EEC concerning the classification, labelling and packaging of dangerous substances ((OJ L 196, 16.8.1967. )) and others will be so classified.

With regard to their use as plant protection products, most persistent OC compounds are prohibited under Community legislation, in particular Directive 79/117/EEC ((OJ L 33, 8.2.1979. )). OP compounds have until 1993 been regulated under national legislation and their use made generally subject to requirements, inter alia, for protective clothing to protect agricultural workers. With the entry into force of Directive 91/414/EEC concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market ((OJ L 230, 19.8.1991. )), new active substances for plant protection products are subject to authorization at Community level and all old active substances, including OCs and OPs, reviewed under the Community programme. In these procedures all aspects of their safety, including operator safety and consumer protection, will be examined.

The Scientific advisory committee to examine the toxicity and ecotoxicity of chemical compounds has provided several opinions on the levels of temporary derogation from the maximum admissible concentration set for individual OCs and OPs in the context of Council Directive 80/778/EEC on the quality of water intended for human consumption ((OJ L 229, 30.8.1980. )). At the end of 1994, an opinion was delivered by the same committee on the health risks related to the use of OP compounds in sheep dipping solution, a problem which seems to be of particular importance in the United Kingdom.

There are no special rules in place at Community level relating to the use of these compounds at the workplace. However, several directives on safety and health at work do establish general rules, in particular the framework directive on the introduction of measures to encourage improvement in the safety and health of workers at work, including the provision of information and training.

The Honourable Member annexes to his question a copy of a letter which appears to concern a different substance, fluoroacetamide, which is neither an OC nor an OP compound. The Commission has already replied pointing out that no positive correlation between OP compounds and bovine spongiform encephalopathy has been found epidemiologically, and laboratory tests did not show any change in the prion related proteins following exposure to pesticides. However the British authorities will be asked to comment specifically on this case. In the event that a satisfactory explanation cannot be obtained, the Commission will ask the subgroup on bovine spongiform encephalopathy within the scientific veterinary committee to look into this matter.