THE Green Party has said that the importation of lindane, a pesticide which has been banned in 14 countries and severely restricted in 23 others, is increasing in Ireland.
The Department of Agriculture responded that lindane's toxicity had been examined by an EU expert advisory committee in 1992 and classified as "non carcinogenic". A Department statement said it was on the market in 12 EU states.
Pesticide products containing lindane are used in horticulture, agriculture, household and garden products, food storage and wood preservation.
Mr Gerry Boland, the Green Party's spokesman on the environment, said imports of lindane had risen from 4,900 kg last year to 4,042 kg in just the first five months of this year.
He said lindane was banned in Sweden, Denmark, Holland, Japan, Taiwan, Brazil, Egypt and India among others.
The Department said the pesticide was "currently being examined by Belgium on behalf of the Community as part of the review of active substances on the market when Council Directive 9 414/EEC concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market, came into force. Following this examination, the future of lindane will be decided by the Standing Committee for Plant Health in Brussels."