Databank. Work on organophosphates
Databank
Work on organophosphates
The Government continues to honour its commitment to investigate the safety of all organophosphate (OP) products. The Government has put in hand a radical reappraisal of OP products recommended for four advisory committees. Two major studies have helped the Government to understand the safety aspects better. These are studies by the Institute for Environment and Health and the Royal Colleges of Physicians and Psychiatrists. As far as veterinary medicines are concerned, such as sheep dips, there are alternative products. For OP pesticides used on crops there is a greater potential for reduction and MAFFs advice to farmers is that the use of pesticides should be avoided unless it is absolutely necessary. For household pesticides there is again significant scope for reduction and replacement with other products. For human medicines where OPs are used, for example to treat head lice, it appears they play an essential role as part of the armoury of products which need to be rotated as resistance builds up.
