47 INSECTICIDES BANNED!!! AMID CANCER FEARS

[Guest guest]

Insecticide ban amid cancer fears.

Householders with wasp killer are being warned of a cancer risk

Shops have been ordered to clear their shelves of almost 50 brands of insect

killer, amid fears they could cause cancer.

Acting on scientific advice the government said the insecticides, including

top-selling lines from Boots, Superdrug and Vapona could be dangerous.

The decision makes it illegal to sell, advertise or supply any of the

products concerned until further tests are completed.

Health officials stressed the withdrawal of products was a precautionary move

pending the chemical tests.

'Careful consideration'

The 47 products banned include fly, moth, wasp and cockroach killers.

The decision was taken following advice from the independent Advisory

Committee on Pesticides (ACP).

It said it could not rule out a link between a chemical called dichlorvos,

which all the products contain, and cancer.

Dr Alan Whitehead, Health and Safety Minister, said: " This is a precautionary

step, and one which has been taken in the light of careful consideration of

independent scientific advice. "

Food and Farming Minister Lord Whitty said: " The suspension will last until

such time as acceptable data regarding the mutagenic and carcinogenic

potential of dichlorvos can be presented to the ACP. "

The suspension has been delayed since August due to legal action from the

manufacturers.

Scientific evidence

A spokesman for the Health and Safety Executive said the courts agreed an

injuction until a risk could be proved.

He said: " The risk is remote but there is scientific evidence which shows a

significant risk and so our action is proportionate.

" If people have these insecticides at home our advice is they can finish

using the product or throw it out in the usual way.

" What we don't want is people panicking that they have to get rid of it

immediately. "

Among the government's suspended products are:

* Vapona Fly Small Space Fly Killer, Moth Killer and Fly and Wasp Killer

Spray.

* Boots Slow Release Fly Killer, and Moth Killer.

* Superdrug Small Space Fly/Moth Strip, and Slow Release Fly Killer.

However, a spokeswoman for Sara Lee, the makers of Vapona, said: " The only

products to contain dichlorvos in the Vapona range are Vapona Fly Killer

Strips, Vapona Moth Killer Strips and Vapona Professional Cockroach Killer. "

She said the company took the decision to discontinue these in October 2001.

" No other Vapona products (including the Wasp and Fly spray) contain

dichlorvos, " she added.

A full list can be found on the Health and Safety Executive's website, under

press releases for April, which is accessed using the What's New index on the

front page.

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