1. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the impact of using pesticides in Wales? OQ57175

Thank you. This issue falls within the Minister for Climate Change's portfolio. However, I can confirm that all pesticides authorised in the UK undergo extensive scientific and technical assessment, and meet strict regulatory standards to ensure they pose no threat to human or animal health and the environment.

Glyphosate is used to kill weeds. I, along with many others, have concerns about the effect of glyphosate on humans, animals and the environment. It's a non-selective systemic herbicide that kills a wide range of plants by entering plants through leaves and using the plant's circulatory system to reach its crown and roots. Does the Minister share my concern, and does the Government intend to legislate regarding the use of glyphosate? 

I'm obviously aware of the concerns regarding the use of glyphosate. At the end of 2017, the EU reapproved it for a further five years, and I'm aware that discussions are beginning now between the European Food Safety Authority and the European Chemicals Agency. But, obviously, since January of this year, a new independent pesticides regulatory regime has begun to operate in Great Britain, and that's got a continued, rigorous and comprehensive risk assessment process for pesticides. So, now Welsh Ministers will continue to take relevant pesticide decisions for Wales, and Great Britain as a whole will undertake its own independent assessments of the evidence on the chemical. Obviously, Welsh Ministers will be very much involved in those discussions. 

Minister, the UK national action plan for the sustainable use of pesticides aims to minimise the risks and the impacts of pesticides to human health and the environment, whilst ensuring that pests and pesticide resistance are managed effectively. Many farmers and land managers currently use pesticides to control and protect their crops from harm from invertebrates, disease and weeds. One of the aims of the UK national action plan focuses on research and development, so can you outline what work has been done directly here in Wales on R&D into pesticides, so we can reduce our reliance on them and help secure the food supply chain?  

Thank you. As I said, this doesn't actually sit in my portfolio—it sits in the climate change ministry—but I'm aware a joint UK consultation on a draft version of a revised national action plan for the sustainable use of pesticides was launched at the end of last year. I know the Minister's officials are working very closely with their counterparts across the UK so that they can amend the draft plan, whilst reflecting, obviously, on the responses that have been submitted in the consultation.