EU rat poison ban threat lifted

Created on Monday, 27 September 2010 00:00

Written by Martin Callanan

The proposals update EU rules that govern products ranging from insect repellents to water treatment chemicals, and for the first time they include products treated with biocides. The most toxic products will be banned and processes will be put in place to speed up the replacement of harmful substances with less harmful alternatives.

New and \'low-risk\' biocides will be authorised by a centralised EU agency from 2013 but the rules continue to allow national governments to decide on new products that can pose serious health risks.

Fortunately, MEPs in the environment committee accepted that there was a wider human health threat if the legislation banned key rat poisons, and they backed down from a planned ban. Socialist MEPs had attempted to ban one key product - Difenacoum.

However, they were defeated in the parliamentary vote in Strasbourg.

Local Conservative MEP Martin Callanan said:

"Biocides are not pleasant substances. Indeed that is why we use them. They are necessary to prevent much more serious public health disasters from occurring.

"The European Parliament has been persuaded to let common sense prevail. Rodent infestations can be dealt with by rodenticides and not by calling in the Pied Piper.

"Rodenticides create resistance. They need to be used in rotation to remain effective and we need all of the products available to us. This sensible agreement significantly increases public health by providing safer biocides without banning those chemicals that we require."

ENDS