New initiatives on pesticides, July 2002

During the first week of July, the European Commission announced two initiatives aimed at reducing the risks posed by pesticides both to the environment and to human health.

The overall aim of the proposed strategy - presented as a Communication entitled 'Towards a thematic strategy on the sustainable use of pesticides' - is to reduce the risks from pesticides ('plant protection products' or PPPs) to farmers, consumers and the environment, whilst at the same time maintaining the productivity of crops. In it the Commission identifies five objectives:

• to minimise the hazards and risks to health and environment from the use of pesticides;

• to improve controls on the use and distribution of pesticides;

• to reduce the levels of harmful active substances, in particular by replacing the most dangerous by safer (including non-chemical) alternatives;

• to encourage the use of low-input or pesticide-free crop farming;

• to establish a transparent system for reporting and monitoring progress including the development of appropriate indicators.

The Communication includes details of a study on PPPs in six Member States, which identified 10 major concerns over their use:

• contamination of water resources used for human consumption
• possible adverse effects on the ecology, e.g., non-target species
• risks to consumers from food via residues
• effects of exposure to residues in water, soil and air
• contamination of surface water or marine environments
• risks to users of agricultural chemicals
• misuse of PPPs due to lack of knowledge among the users
• specific concern about adverse effects on an ecosystem element
• dependence of agriculture on chemicals for pest control
• frequent and large-scale use of PPPs

Announcing the initiative the Environment Commissioner, Margot Wallstrom, said: 'Pesticides pose a risk to human health and the environment - The Commission is working to make agricultural production less dependent on pesticides, especially the most hazardous ones, as alternatives do already exist.'

The European Union uses about 25% of PPPs produced in the world - some 320,000 tonnes every year. There is already EU legislation on pesticides, mostly focusing on the authorisation of substances for use in plant protection products, but also establishing maximum residue levels in food and feedstuffs - i.e. it deals essentially with 'before' and 'after' use situations. The development of a thematic strategy on the sustainable use of pesticides was foreseen in the 6th Environment Action Programme (6EAP), which sees the strategy as complementing existing legislation by focusing on the actual use of plant protection products.

The need for an EU-wide strategy is defended on the grounds that:

• many of the risks presented by pesticide use are similar in all Member States;
• risks have a cross-border character, especially in terms of water and air pollution;
• many Member States have already started risk reduction programmes.

The Communication is intended to stimulate a debate on the issues amongst interested parties. The consultative process will end on 30 November 2002. The Commission expects to present proposals to the Council and the European Parliament early in 2004.

In the other initiative, the Commission announced that some 320 substances used in plant protection products (PPPs) will be withdrawn from the market in 2003. The products affected include fungicides, herbicides and insecticides. There was also a warning that a further 150 substances might be withdrawn in July 2003 following a second notification from the Commission which is expected shortly. If that happens, then 2003 will see the removal of more than 60% of all the PPPs available in 1993.

Manufacturers are currently required to prove that plant protection products comply with appropriate safety standards. The majority of the products identified for withdrawal by the Commission will probably not be 'defended' by manufacturers. Any manufacturer wishing to defend a product must submit information to the European Food Safety Authority and the relevant national body by May 2003.

Links:

European Commission:

• Communication - Towards a thematic strategy on the sustainable use of pesticides (COM (2002) 349)
• Pesticides: Commission to consult stakeholders on strategy to reduce risks, 4 July 2002 IP/02/996
• Sustainable Use of Plant Protection Products (PPPs)
• 320 pesticides to be withdrawn in July 2003, 4 July 2002 IP/02/1004
• Sixth Environment Action Plan

Eric Davies
KnowEurope Researcher
Compiled: Monday, 8 July 2002

During the first week of July 2002, the European Commission announced two initiatives aimed at reducing the risks posed by pesticides both to the environment and to human health.