Publication - FOI/EIR release

Pesticide and insecticide usage: EIR release

Published: 19 June 2020
Directorate: Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate
Part of: Farming and rural, Public sector
FOI reference: FOI/202000031981
Date received: 14 May 2020
Date responded: 10 June 2020

Information request and response under the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004

Information requested

Insecticide usage on total arable, grassland and fodder crops from early 1990s until current usage, and the use of sheep dips and pour-on products used by sheep farmers

Response

I enclose a copy of the information you requested in the format you asked for in your request: the estimated insecticide usage on total arable, grassland and fodder crops from the early 1990s until current usage. I have provided the estimated quantity used and treated area for each insecticide active substance. I have also provided the total area grown for each of the crop groups in each year.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance theScottish Government does not have some of the information you have requested. Therefore we are refusing your request under the exception at regulation 10(4)(a) of the EIRs. The reasons why that exception applies are explained in the Annex to this letter.

However, you may wish to contact the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) an executive agency of Defra that regulate veterinary medicines such as sheep dips/ pour-ons products in Great Britain at:

Veterinary Medicines Directorate
Woodham Lane
New Haw
Addlestone
Surrey
KT15 3LS
United Kingdom

Email postmaster@vmd.gov.uk or through their website at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/veterinary-medicines-directorate who may be able to help you.

As stated in my previous email, The Scottish Government did complete some surveys of pesticide use on sheep back in the 1980’s and 90’s. Please find attached a scanned copy of the pesticide use on sheep 1996, 1993 and 1983 reports.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.