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Sheep Dipping: Organophosphates

Asked by Edward MorelloLiberal DemocratDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled Answered 6 May 2025UIN 47547

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he had made of the potential impact of organophosphate exposure from sheep dip on the health of (a) farmers and (b) agricultural workers.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner

The Government has commissioned a considerable amount of research to investigate whether there is a link between the use of organophosphate sheep dips and chronic ill-health. The outcome of this research was provided to the independent Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment who have published two statements in 2009 and 2014. The independent scientific advice is that the research evidence does not support a link between the use of sheep dips and chronic ill-health.

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