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Rivers and aquatic wildlife will be protected from pollution by cypermethrin sheep dip with its permanent withdrawal from sale in the UK this week. Sales of cypermethrin sheep dip products were suspended in February 2006 following a number of serious cases of pollution of rivers. Key to the case for suspension was Environment Agency evidence that showed the insecticide was damaging watercourses and had wiped out aquatic wildlife in certain locations. In 2005 the Environment Agency successfully prosecuted 10 serious pollution incidents caused by cypermethrin sheep dip. All the incidents resulted in significant losses of aquatic wildlife. One incident on the River Mint at Patton Bridge, north east of Kendal in Cumbria, killed over 5000 rare native white-clawed crayfish – a protected species. Prior to the suspension the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), which authorises veterinary medicines for sale in the UK, asked the manufacturers for new data concerning the environmental risks of their products. But now the three remaining companies with suspended approval to sell cypermethrin dips have opted to permanently withdraw their dips from the UK market. Dr Paul Leinster, Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, said: “This is great news for the environment. It means greater protection for kilometres of high quality rivers in the sheep farming areas of Wales and England. “Since the suspension we, together with VMD, have worked with farmers, anglers and wildlife groups to examine ways the dips could be used safely. As part of this work, research was carried out to understand better how cypermethrin was getting into rivers. Crucially, one of these studies showed that significant amounts of cypermethrin could be washed off a sheep’s fleece for as long as 28 days after dipping. "This, plus other evidence we gathered, led the Environment Agency to conclude that cypermethrin dips could not be used without unacceptable risks to the environment and breaches of environmental legislation that protect aquatic wildlife. “Given that alternative dips, injectable and pour-on treatments are available for farmers to use, the companies decision to withdraw cypermethrin sheep dip from the UK market was the best solution.” Already seeing the benefits Environment Agency evidence also shows that the four-year suspension of cypermethrin dips has resulted in significant benefits for the environment including: -
The recovery of stretches of waterway that suffered severe pollution from cypermethrin, -
A dramatic drop in the number of serious pollution incidents caused by cypermethrin dips – from 13 serious incidents in 2005 to two in 2006, one in 2007 and none in the past two years. The Environment Agency anticipates the permanent withdrawal of cypermethrin dips will bring improvements in over 20 stretches of river that currently fail European water quality standards.
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Two of NOV Mono’s revolutionary 
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