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

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the remit of their advisory committees which report on pesticides; whether there is any overlap in their activities; and to whom each committee reports.

The Advisory Committee on Pesticides (ACP)Terms of Reference are set out in the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985, as published on the following website:

http://www.pesticides.gov.uk/guidance/industries/pesticides/advisory-groups/acp/acp-committee-information/acp-terms-of-reference.htm

The ACP provides independent advice to Ministers responsible for pesticides in Defra, the Department of Health, the Department for Work and Pensions, the Food Standards Agency and to the Devolved Administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The Defra Expert Committee on Pesticide Residues in Food (PRiF)Terms of Reference are available on the following website:

http://www.pesticides.gov.uk/Resources/CRD/Migrated-Resources/PRiF_TOR.pdf

The PRiF reports to Defra's Chief Scientific Adviser and provides advice to the Ministers in Defra and the Devolved Administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

These two committees have separate responsibilities. Their activities are related but do not overlap.

The ACP also works closely with other government advisory committees where their wider work is relevant to pesticides.