EU Rat Poison Ban Threat Lifted
Brussels, 23 June 2010
Rats across Yorkshire live in fear again after Conservatives voted to foil an attempted EU ban on rat poison. Timothy payed tribute to the work that his colleague Julie Girling MEP has done in bringing back common sense into the proposal today.
The European Parliament's Environment committee voted on new proposals for legislation on pest control products which had proposed a ban on all anti-coagulants in rodenticides, leaving no clear method for controlling rat populations.
However, an amendment to the report was able to agree that such rodenticides can be used if in the public interest or in the interest of public health.
Unfortunately, the committee did adopt one specific ban on the product difenacoum which is widely used in controlling rat populations.
Conservatives will work with other political groups to further amend the plans before they reach the full parliament session where the proposals will be adopted in September.
In a press statement, Timothy said:
"I'd like to thank my Conservative colleague Julie Girling MEP for her hard work on the issue of rodenticides. Without her, our last hope would have been to call the Pied Piper!
"It's another example of well-intentioned MEPs trying to push through legislation without taking into account all the consequences.
"It appears that common sense has almost prevailed, but we still need to fight a proposed ban on difenacoum, which is widely used in controlling rat populations. I hope that MEPs realise that arbitrary bans will only undermine public health in the long run."
