ALLOTMENT HOLDERS UP IN ARMS OVER CONTAMINATED MANURE

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 8th Jul 2008

Sutton and Cheam MP, Paul Burstow, has challenged Environment Ministers to explain how a pesticide called aminopyralid contaminated manure used by gardeners and allotmenteers on the Benhilton allotment and twenty other allotments in the borough. The contamination has ruined vegetable crops and raised questions about the risk to human health.

The pesticide is sold to farmers to kill weeds in their fields. Mr Burstow has learned that the farmer who supplies manure to allotments in the borough has confirmed to allotment holders that his supplier of hay had used aminopyrlid on his fields. The weed killer bonds to the grass on which it is sprayed, which is then used as bedding or is grazed by cattle and horses and passes through the animal without breaking down. When the manure is used by gardeners and allotment holders it causes distorted and stunted growth on potatoes, tomatoes and other crops. The Royal Horticultural Society is recommending that crops are best not eaten.

Paul Burstow MP is calling for a parliamentary debate on the issue and has tabled a series of parliamentary questions raising concerns about the impact of aminopyralid on food crops and horticulture and what the risk to human health might be.

Commenting Paul Burstow said: "This pesticide is not meant to be used where it could come into contact with crops. There are warnings about how to use aminoprylid, but these appear to have been ignored ruining the hard work of gardeners and allotment holders across the country.

"I want the Government to take action to ensure that public health is not a risk from this contamination. There is also clearly a case for compensation for the loss of crops. Steps need to be taken to prevent contaminated manure getting into horticulture. Above all lessons must be learned to make sure that nothing like this happens again."

ENDS

Background information can be found at:

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/food/2008/06/mutant_vegetables_whos_to_blam.html

Questions tabled by Paul Burstow MP:

Ordinary Written question to: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for answer on 09 Jul 2008 12:00 AM

What assessment has his department made of the risk to (a) human and (b) animal health of consuming vegetables grown in manure contaminated with Aminopyralid?.

Ordinary Written question to: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for answer on 09 Jul 2008 12:00 AM

What advice has his department issued and how and to whom has it been disseminated concerning the use of manure contaminated by Aminopyralid?.

Ordinary Written question to: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for answer on 09 Jul 2008 12:00 AM

What assessment has his department made of the impact on UK agriculture production of the use of manure contaminated with Aminopyralid?.

Ordinary Written question to: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for answer on 09 Jul 2008 12:00 AM

What representations has his department has concerning the impact of aminopyralid in manure on horticulture?

Ordinary Written question to: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for answer on 10 Jul 2008 12:00 AM

How many inquires have been recorded by the Pesticide Safety Directorate regarding manure contaminated by aminopyralid.