Strategy on Sustainable Use of Pesticides

January 14, 2003

Strategy on the Sustainable Use of Pesticides

Following its presentation in July 2002 of a Communication on a "Thematic Strategy on the Sustainable Use of Pesticides" (see IEM, September issue), the European Commission organized several consultations:

European Parliament:

The ENVI COM Rapporteur, Belgian Socialist MEP, Kathleen VAN BREMPT, considers that EU shall set clear mandatory national reduction programs. These legislative measures shall be presented by the Commission at the same time as the thematic strategy.

The EP Opinion is likely to be adopted in March / April 2003.

Council Conclusions:

The Environment Council conclusions of December 10 called for the Commission to :

• set up appropriate time-frames for the implementation of relevant measures;
• ensure consistency between the EU's internal and external policies;
• take due consideration of National reduction plans taken in the framework of the 6^th Environment Action Plan (Art 7. 1);
• develop suitable indicators to measure the progress on national risk reduction plans;
• provide guidance on key measures for national plans;
• include a proposal for an EU framework for the development of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Integrated Crop Management (ICM);
• promote further the use of low-input or pesticide free crop farming (especially organic farming);

Stakeholder Conference

Representatives from the crop protection industry, farming unions, environmentalist and consumer groups, government bodies, and the food and retail sectors took part in the Stakeholders consultation organized in Brussels on November 4, 2002.

EU Environment Commissioner, Margot WALLSTRÖM, in her opening speech, underlined that the future strategy shall aim to addressing the shortcoming of the current legislation (Directive 91/414/EEC), which is "not very specific when it comes to the use phase or application of plant protection products after they have been authorized". She furthermore encourages the industry to organize voluntary agreements.

Several NGOs have signed a declaration, stating they:

• regret the lack of ambition of this communication;
• ask for the inclusion of the obligation to reduce pesticides' use by 50% in 10 years;
• require the ban on pesticides accumulating in the environment or human bodies or which are carcinogenic, mutagenic, reprotoxic or endocrine disrupters;
• wish to include cocktail effect (cumulative use of several products, even at very low dose)

While representatives from crop protection industries argued that a policy of substitution would reduce control options. He pointed out that over dependence on one type of chemical could result in the development of resistance. He furthermore underlined that the use of pesticides shall remain at the level "necessary to sustain a European Agricultural sector that is economically viable, environmentally sound and socially responsible".

The Commission shall adopt a proposal for a Pesticides Strategy in the course of the first semester 2004.

For further information or specific questions concerning EU legislation on Pesticides, please contact our Brussels Office at:

Brussels@mckennalong.com or +322 278 12 11