In a resolution adopted in Strasbourg on Wednesday 15 February, the European Parliament presses the Commission to propose draft legislation before the end of 2018 in order to fast-track the evaluation, authorisation and registration of pesticides that present a low risk for the environment and human health, in order to increase the availability and accessibility of these products in the EU.
Achieving marketing authorisation for these organic pesticides, including bio-organism-, pheromone- and essential oil-based pesticides, is akin to a veritable assault course when these pesticides could be used to replace the ever more controversial traditional plant protection products, MEPs complain.
They are unhappy with the excessively slow and complex certification procedure for large-scale use of these products. To date, only seven have been approved for use in the EU. In addition, some member states will not authorise these alternative, low-risk products because they are considered to be less effective, without taking any account of their resource efficiency benefits for organic farming or the health and environmental costs associated with the other products (see EUROPE 11715).
The resolution urges the Commission to propose amendment of Regulation 1107/2009 on the placing of plant protection products on the market as part of the REFIT programme before the end of 2018.
It calls on member states to put in place national plans to protect the environment and public health and to place greater focus on low-risk organic pesticides. It calls for increased use of organic pesticides and for an assurance that citizens will be able to enjoy safe, healthy and affordable food that has been produced safely and sustainably.
“In 2014, almost 400,000 tonnes of active substances were sold for the manufacture of conventional plant protection products. These substances, residues of which can be found in water, the soil and the food chain, are all to a greater or lesser extent toxic, carcinogenic and potentially harmful to reproductive health. This is a chemical cocktail to which we are exposed. Pregnant women and children are particularly vulnerable. Alternatives have to be proposed for farmers who need to have a broader range of tools to protect their crops”, said Pavel Poc (S&D, Czech Republic), rapporteur on an oral question to the Commission.
Health and Food Safety Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis stated: “biological pesticides are fundamental innovations that may provide our farmers with sustainable options to protect their crops, preserve biodiversity and protect people’s health” but, under the terms of Regulation 1107/2009, there has to be an assessment of the risk they may pose, he pointed out. “Micro-organisms – and other natural substances – can also be a danger to human health. The regulation does provide for specific criteria and requirements for micro-organisms. It contains incentives to facilitate the placing on the market of low-risk products. The extent to which these incentives are sufficient will be assessed in the evaluation of the Regulation that we have, as you may know, started under the REFIT programme”, he said. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)