According to a study published on Thursday 6 April by PAN Europe (Pesticide Action Network Europe), despite the fact that the European Ombudsperson accused the European Commission of poor management in pesticide authorisation administration more than a year ago, it is continuing its practices in this area, as if nothing has changed at all. This NGO is active in the fight to ensure sustainable use of pesticides and was behind the complaint brought against the Commission.
In February 2016, the European Ombudsman, Emily O’Reilly, denounced the fact that the Commission’s Health Directorate General’s current use of confirmation data procedure (CDP procedure), which should only be used in exceptions under the terms of the 1107/109 regulation, was allowing for the authorisation of pesticides onto the market, despite a data deficit into the safety of these substances identified by the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA). The Commission was therefore urged to put a stop to this practice, which is considered an example of poor administration and for the institution to submit over the course of the following two years, a report to the Ombudsman, proving that DG Health has indeed carried out a change in practices as requested over a long period of time (see EUROPE 11496).
The PAN Europe study demonstrates that since February 2016, DG Health has continued to use the CDP for 20 out of 22 authorisation decisions or in 91% of cases, in violation of the precautionary principle. It also demonstrates that in 100% of these cases, no protection measure advocated by the EFSA for high risks identified has been introduced.
Hans Mullerman from this NGO explained, “Commission health service DG SANTE is not living up to their mission to protect the public and the environment. Pesticides currently allowed on the market are not safe and contribute to the widespread destruction of biodiversity in agricultural areas”.
The study is available at: https://goo.gl/AlwS4m. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)