DETR consults on pesticides tax/charge scheme

The Chancellor announced on 9 March that no decision has been taken on whether to introduce a tax on the use of pesticides. The

Government has been considering the case for introducing a pesticides tax as part of its policy on pesticide minimisation. It says that further work and consultation is required before deciding on whether or not to proceed with a pesticides tax. The Government wants to consider the issues raised in this research report alongside other possible measures or factors which may improve or influence pesticide use.

Copies of the full research report “Design of Tax/Charge Scheme for Pesticides“, a final report to the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions by Ecotec Research and Consulting Ltd, are available from:

DETR Publication Sales Centre, Rotherham, (ISBN: 1851121609).

A copy of the executive summary of the report is available from:

DETR Free Literature, PO Box 236, Wetherby, LS23 7NB.

The DETR told edie that due to a backlog of work, the report will not be available on the Web “for a couple of weeks”, but it will be posted at:

http://www.environment.detr.gov.uk/