During December 2004 some users tried to give unused “Cymag” to the police. “Cymag” is a deadly, fast acting poison – it releases cyanide gas on contact with moisture.
It is dangerous, illegal and foolish to put the police or anyone else at risk in this way.
The police do not have breathing apparatus, gas masks or first aid equipment needed to handle “Cymag” safely. Their storage facilities are not suitable for storing “Cymag”. Even if they had all the equipment and facilties, the police do not have the necessary training to recognise and manage the dangers.
Approval for storage and use of "Cymag" expired on 31 December 2004 (the withdrawal date set by the EC Review Programme).
If you store or use “Cymag” after 31 December 2004 you will be in breach of The Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986 (as amended) unless you have a reasonable excuse for doing so. The only way to dispose of "Cymag" legally is by using a licensed waste contractor. Any other method of disposing of “Cymag” is illegal in itself and may also illegally put people, wildlife or the environment at risk.
Please see the link below to the page on ESA's web site which contains details of the contractors who are licensed to deal with Cymag and other pesticides.
Companies that can safely dispose of Cymag.
4 January 2005
