Few consumers or gardeners know of the ban or what it covers

The move is part of a European Union directive to remove hazardous substances from gardens and farms and to harmonise pesticides across the EU.

When this story was highlighted by BBC Northern Ireland's environment correspondent Mike McKimm on Tuesday, it was apparent that few consumers or gardeners knew of the ban or what it covered.

They must not use any remaining supplies after the end of December and must have disposed of all illegal pesticides by the end of March next year.

Mike McKimm said the ban was going to be a major problem for local councils.

They are obliged by law to accept and dispose of such chemicals, but even by Friday they had received no instructions from government on how to dispose of the chemicals.