On Monday 15 July, several EU agriculture ministers supported the development and availability of low-risk pesticides for crop treatment.
The European Commission presented its progress report on the action plan to increase the availability of low-risk plant protection products. The report highlights that since 2016, progress has been made in the transition to more sustainable plant health practices by EU farmers. However, some Member States need to step up their efforts to focus on low-risk products.
For Poland, it is necessary to find products that present fewer risks and perhaps consider the possibility of re-authorising certain low-risk substances. "There is still a lot of work to do", the Netherlands said. Spain wants to reduce the impact of these products on health and the environment. Low-risk products must be made available to farmers, they said.
For Greece, more flexible rules are needed to promote the use of low-risk pesticides. Denmark considered that farmers should be offered more alternatives. France is focusing on the development of 'biocontrol' and has requested a change in legislation to accelerate the availability of these products. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)