1/ As the #AustraliaTradeDeal row rages, here are some facts and figures on UK vs Australian #pesticide standards which reveal the extent of the threat posed to British farming and human and environmental health
2/ Unlike the UK, Australia still allows food to contain residues of Chlorpyrifos which has been shown to negatively affect the cognitive development of foetuses and young children.
3/ Australian apples can contain up to 100 times the amount of Malathion than UK apples. Malathion is an insecticide with links to cancer. It is a suspected endocrine disruptor capable of interfering with hormone systems which can lead to birth defects and many other problems.
4/There are 144 Highly Hazardous Pesticides authorised for use in Australia, almost double the figure in the UK (which is 73).
5/ Australia allows the use of many pesticides banned in the UK because they are toxic to bees. The list includes fipronil and #neonics #neonicotinoids #beetoxic
6/ Australia allows the use of pesticides which contaminate water and can harm aquatic ecosystems and species such as the herbicides diuron and simazine.
7/ The lethal #pesticide paraquat, which is banned in more than 40 countries, is still allowed for use in Australia. It been banned for use in the UK since 2007.
8/ Organophosphates (OPs) are a group of pesticides known to be particularly toxic to humans. Exposure can result in a range of symptoms including death. Australia authorises 33 OPs. The USA 26. The UK just 4.
9/ Australia has no set time period for reviewing pesticide approvals, so harmful pesticides can remain in use indefinitely once authorised. In the UK, pesticides have to be reapproved every 15 years.
10/ If the UK Government bows to demands from Australian trade negotiators then the result could be larger amounts of more toxic pesticides in UK food and more hazardous chemicals allowed for use on UK farms.
11/ British farmers will either be undercut by imported crops grown more cheaply on a larger scale & to lower standards. Or be encouraged to use currently banned pesticides. But then their produce will no longer meet EU standards and they lose their largest export market (60%).
12/ Its vital that the UK Government doesn’t agree to trade away our hard-won pesticide protections in return for an #AustraliaTradeDeal #DontTradeOurPlanet. For more information on trade and pesticides see @PAN_UK @Sustain @LydgateEmily report #ToxicTrade pan-uk.org/toxic-trade/
@Simon4NDorset @EmilyThornberry @munirawilson @CarolineLucas @DanielZeichner @AngusMacNeilSNP @GarethThomasMP @trussliz @neil_parish @GeraintDaviesMP @BenGoldsmith @ZacGoldsmith @pmdfoster @dpcarrington @bwebster135
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