A number of sheep dip products notorious for causing pollution incidents have been taken off the market by their manufacturers.

The makers of three cypermethrin products have voluntarily withdrawn their Marketing Authorisations - the legal permits to make and sell the sheep dip - saying they no longer wish to sell them.

Following reports of serious pollution incidents arising from the routine use of the products the Government temporarily suspended the marketing Authorisations of the three cypermethrin sheep dip products in February 2006.

The suspension stopped further pollution and allowed time to consider whether measures could be put in place to permit their safe use.

These sheep dips have been found to pollute rivers during and following routine sheep dipping operations, killing aquatic invertebrates.

In September 2006 the Environment Agency teamed up with the NFU to work on voluntary controls with a campaign called Stop Every Drop.

Professor Steve Dean, chief executive of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate said: "Although sheep farmers from across the United Kingdom valued the cypermethrin dip products, since the products were suspended four years ago the VMD has not received any accounts of the alternative authorised products failing to control sheep scab.

"As the routine use of the cypermethrin dips has proved too challenging for environmental safety I welcome this voluntary move by the manufacturers."

Sam Bond