On Tuesday, 21 April, the European Parliament’s Committee on the Environment, Public Health, and Food Safety (ENVI) opposed the European Commission’s proposal to markedly raise the maximum residue levels (MRLs) authorised for certain pesticides in or on certain food products.
The objection prepared by Michèle Rivasi (Greens/EFA, France) was adopted by 44 votes (31 against, 5 abstentions)—all political groups included.
Maximum residue limits for cycloxydim, flonicamid, haloxyfop, mandestrobin, mepiquat, Metschnikowia fructicola strain NRRL Y-27328, and prohexadione were concerned.
“This is a victory for health and agriculture”, Mrs Rivasi announced with delight.
The purpose of raising MRLs for haloxyfop, for example, was to allow linseed to be imported from Australia.
Before the vote, the European Commission representative had asserted that the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) had looked favourably on raising MRLs. “There are some restrictions in relation to water pollution, but there is no evidence that water pollution exists in Australia. EFSA confirmed that the MRLs are safe for health and the environment”, he had said.
Parliamentary committee chair Pascal Canfin (Renew Europe, France) called on the Commission to withdraw its proposal. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)