Government response

Myth Bust: The Independent claims that Ministers refuse to ban deadly bird poison

The myth: An article in The Independent claimed that Environment Minister Richard Benyon has ‘refused to ban deadly bird poison’. The truth…

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Published: 18 October 2012

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

The myth: An article in The Independent claimed that Environment Minister Richard Benyon has ‘refused to ban deadly bird poison’.

The truth: This substance is not approved for use in the UK and the story is wrong. The substance in question, carbofuran, had its approval for use revoked several years ago and it is therefore illegal to advertise, sell, supply, store or use it or any other substances that have had their approval similarly revoked. To claim that the Environment Minister has refused to ban it is factually wrong.

Published 18 October 2012