Programme for 5th ACP Open Meeting

Main topic for discussion: Indirect effects of pesticides on wildlife

1. Introduction and welcome – Professor David Coggon, Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides (ACP), Professor of Occupational and Environmental Medicine at the Medical Research Council Environmental Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton.
2. Effects on wildlife – important outcome measures – Professor Robert Smith –Deputy Chairman of ACP, Professor of Biology at the University of Leicester
   • Professor Smith will cover examples of direct and indirect effects on wildlife and ask what should be our aim in measures to protect wildlife. Should we seek to protect biodiversity per se or should we direct our efforts primarily to the protection of certain valued species (eg birds or butterflies)? How might we measure the outcome of any intervention made?
3. A possible risk assessment scheme – Dr Alastair Burn of English Nature – Chairman of the Subgroup considering impact on wider biodiversity
   • Dr Burn will outline the work of this subgroup and introduce the risk assessment scheme devised for possible incorporation into the regulatory regime for pesticides.
4. A critique – Professor David Macdonald, ACP member and Director of the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit at the University of Oxford
   • Professor Macdonald will consider the possibility of inadvertent adverse effects of changes to the regulatory regime for pesticides and whether there are important scientific uncertainties that need to be resolved before decisions can be taken about the best way forward to manage adverse effects on pesticides on wildlife.
5. Alternative interventions – Lord Peter Melchett of the Soil Association
   • Lord Melchett will consider interventions to protect wildlife other than through the pesticide regulatory regime. Could these approaches protect wildlife more effectively and are they practical for farmers?
6. Discussion
7. Any other questions
   • The Committee will respond to questions sent in advance of the meeting (as time allows).

Meeting closes at approximately 5.00 pm

View the meeting papers from the Open Meeting index page.

Details of how to apply for a ticket for the Open Meeting (closing date for applications Monday 18 October).