30/11/2010 (Agence Europe) - Countries divided over ban of pesticide 1.3-dichloropropene. On Monday 29 November, the Agriculture Council was unable to reach qualified majority for or against a proposal not to include 1.3-dichloropropene on the list of active substances authorised by the Community directive on the marketing of phytopharmaceutical products. It will be up to the European Commission to settle the matter. The Commission is expected to follow up its proposal for a ban on the substance, a pesticide used especially for the cultivation of fruit, sugar-beet and potatoes. Countries against the ban include France, Italy, the United Kingdom and Spain. Countries that follow the Commission's view are, in particular, the Scandinavian countries and Germany. (L.C./transl.jl)