Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of pesticide regulation by the (a) Health and Safety Executive and (b) Expert Committee on Pesticides.

The UK has one of the most robust regulatory systems in the world. Pesticides are only authorised following a thorough scientific risk assessment that concludes all safety standards are met. Pesticides that pose unacceptable risks are not authorised.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are responsible for these authorisations. They also undertake compliance and enforcement activities to ensure that where pesticides are used, they are used safely and in accordance with the law.

The role of the Expert Committee on Pesticides is to provide independent scientific advice, views and recommendations where required. The ECP publishes its annual report each year which summarises its work & it delivers expert advice as requested. The latest annual report to be published can be found here.