(Cambridge) (Lab):...It
seems to us that the Government are currently refusing to include
in the Bill a ban on food imports produced to lower standards than
our own. They have also dodged amendments to the Bill that were
suggested previously by the current Secretary of State himself,
which seemed to aim to ensure the exact same thing—banning the sale
of animal products in this country that had been subjected
to chemicals and
processes that we do currently allow here...
...Picture this: it is a lovely sunny day and everyone is outside.
Kids are playing in the park, with their mums and dads looking on.
What we do not often think about when we picture these happy
scenarios, because we do not look for them, are herbicides,
fungicides and insecticides. They may well be blowing in on spores
and from nearby crops or, more directly, kids may be playing on
grass in a park that has been treated with pesticides or
weed-killing chemicals.
Quite rightly, we are now being told every day because of
coronavirus that we need to wash our hands and not touch our
mouths, eyes or nose. In more usual times, we are perhaps a bit
more slack about possible transference of dangerous substances
into our bodies—and these substances can be dangerous. A
selection of the labels on pesticide products used in the UK
contains warnings such as “Very toxic by inhalation”, “Do not
breathe spray/fumes/vapour”, “Risk of serious damage to eyes”,
“Harmful: possible risk of irreversible effects through
inhalation”, “May cause cancer by inhalation”, and even “May be
fatal if inhaled.” Cornell University’s work on pesticides points
to the risk of deformities, mutations, cancer and poisoning of
the nervous system. These are dangerous
chemicals and we need to keep a close eye on
their impact...
...In answer to the right hon. Gentleman’s question, we are
absolutely interested in looking at ways in which we can reduce
pesticide use. As I indicated earlier, I am well aware that
farmers do not use pesticides without due caution, or without
bearing in mind the current safety regulations and the costs
involved. Having said that, we believe there should be additional
measures in this Bill. We fully accept that pesticides are needed
in some situations, but other new technologies might be
available, including drones and satellite images that have the
potential to make the application of these chemicals much
more targeted and less damaging. I am told that those techniques
are already being used in other countries, but if we are not
monitoring pesticides and their impact, there is no way that we
will be able to encourage or assist farmers to adopt more
selective and less damaging techniques...
To read the whole debate CLICK HERE
(ELEVENTH SITTING) and CLICK HERE
(TWELFTH SITTING)
