A strategy for reducing sheep dip chemical pollution from the textile industry has been published by the Sheep Dip Chemicals and Textiles Working Group, on which SEPA sits. The strategy tackles concerns about residues of sheep dip chemicals being discharged to rivers via sewage treatment works after processing of fleeces and skins by the textile industry. Many of the reported environmental quality standard (EQS) failures attributed to sheep dip compounds arise through this route.

In the strategy the Working Group recommends that:

I. Good husbandry practice is adopted by the sheep industry including not using dips and pour-ons within at least three months of shearing/slaughter;

II A review is commissioned to consider the environmental case for introducing an industry-led set treatment time for sheep;

III Sheep farmers include details of products used and the date of last treatment with existing documentation supplied to textile processors;

IV. R&D be carried out to:

a) determine the period required between treatment and shearing/slaughter for different products to ensure that discharge effluents from scourers/fellmongers via sewage treatment works meet the EQSs

b) identify methods of rapid analysis of sheep dip chemical levels in wool

c) identify how textile industry emissions may be reduced thorough improved operational practice and/or treatment technology;

V. Discharge consents under review by the SEPA should be revised in the light of any updated Environmental Quality Standards. EQSs should be reviewed as and when new ecotoxicological data become available.

Notes for editors

1. The Sheep Dip Chemicals and Textiles Working Group is chaired by the Environment Agency and includes representatives from Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Veterinary Medicines Directorate, National Office for Animal Health, WaterUK, the textile industry and the National Sheep Association. The group was set up following a recommendation in the National Rivers Authority’s report "Pesticides in the Aquatic Environment", published in October 1995.

2. Copies of the strategy may be obtained from Public Affairs, SEPA Head Office, Erskine Court, The Castle Business Park, Stirling. FK9 4TR.

3. An Environmental Quality Standard is the concentration of a substance which must not be exceeded within the aquatic environment in order to protect it for its recognised uses.