03/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - Measures requested in favour of European rice producers. On Thursday 3 March, COPA-COGECA called for long-term solutions to “urgently address the lack of plant protection products available on the EU rice market”. It warns against harvest losses of up to 50% (as was the case in Italy in 2008) when there are no fungicides. Integrated pest management practices are underway in Spain and France. Nonetheless, since 1993, 74% of herbicides, insecticides and fungicides are no longer available on the EU market and they have not been replaced by alternatives. A sufficient choice of plant protection products is needed to prevent the development of resistance to products.