John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 174: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the action taken in relation to atrazine and related weedkillers following a ban introduced in France and the promise to take action once EU reviews on the matter were complete. [34230/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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In accordance with EU rules, the registration of plant protection products containing atrazine for non-essential uses was withdrawn on 10 September 2005. The remaining essential uses, weed control in maize and in forestry, will be withdrawn by 30 June 2007. Similarly the registration of plant protection products containing simazine for non-essential uses was withdrawn on 10 September 2005. The remaining essential uses, weed control in potatoes, field beans, rhubarb, soft fruit, tree fruit, ornamentals and amenity use, will be withdrawn by 30 June 2007.

Essential uses are uses for which there are no registered alternatives and for which continued use does not result in unacceptable risk to man, animals or the environment. Such uses have been designated for atrazine and-or simazine in Belgium, Greece, Ireland, UK, Netherlands, Spain and Portugal.