Pesticide approval procedures and legal rights

The High Court has quashed a Government decision to suspend approval for a pesticide on the grounds that the company marketing it was not given sufficient opportunity to comment on the scientific evidence before the relevant committees. The case underlines the importance of ensuring that parties in complex regulatory processes are fully aware of the basis on which decisions are being made, and have the chance to submit comments. The judgment also raises important questions about the relevance of the precautionary principle and the Human Rights Act to chemicals regulation.