COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, July 13, 2015

QUESTION NO.9

QUESTION: Councillor R. McMahon

Has the Council researched and tested the product Glyphosate as it used in the county as a weed killer and has the council established that it is not a risk to public health? If you have you, might share the details of this research.

REPLY:

The term ‘pesticide’ describes a broad group of products that are used as plant protection products (PPPs) and/or biocidal products and some veterinary medicine products. It has been agreed at EU level that, for the present, only plant protection products should be included within the scope of the actions proposed in the Sustainable Use Directive. Plant protection products are used to protect plants from diseases or pests or to control the growth of plants in agriculture, horticulture, forestry, amenity, home/garden and non-crop areas. Plant protection products are, by their nature, biologically active and are designed to control organisms which are harmful to crops, e.g., weeds, insects, plant pathogens which are injurious to the health and integrity of the plant or plant product.

The regulatory system for plant protection products in Ireland is based directly on EU legislation. This legislation, composed of both EU Regulations and Directives, provides a very high level of protection for man, animals and the environment. The legislation is based on a conservative approach to authorisation and use, such that levels of dietary exposure to plant protection products are below safe limits and that plant protection products are applied safely, only where absolutely necessary and in the least amounts possible.

A plant protection product  is not authorized for marketing or use, unless it is shown that the plant protection product can be applied without causing unacceptable harmful effects to human or animal health or to the environment. Where risks are identified and quantified, risk mitigation measures may be required to facilitate the safe use of the plant protection product in the field. Such measures include the use of buffer zones, personal protective equipment or other specific requirements.

This risk-based approach to plant protection product approval only allows substances to be authorised for marketing and use if it is shown that, where all instructions for use are adhered to and due care and attention is practiced, the product can be used safely and exposure occurs significantly below hazardous levels.

The use and control of herbicides in Ireland is determined by The Pesticide Registration and Control Divisions and the Pesticide Control Laboratory of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) who are responsible for implementing the regulatory system for plant protection products. The continued use of glyphosate based products in the Irish Market is a matter for the DAFM. Our advice to date is that the use of glyphosate, if used in accordance with standard practice, does not present a risk to public health.

South Dublin County Council complies with guidance and recommendations that the DAFM issues from time to time in relation to the use of plant protection products which includes the use of glyphosate based products.