Experts from the EU Member States, meeting in the PAFF Committee on Friday 23 October, supported the European Commission's proposal not to renew the authorisation for mancozeb, a highly toxic pesticide active substance. A draft implementing regulation by the Commission was under consideration.
“Victory! Europe has finally refused to renew the authorisation of mancozeb, a pesticide recognised as a probable carcinogen by European scientists!”, were the congratulatory words from MEP Eric Andrieu (S&D, France) who chaired the European Parliament's special PEST committee.
After glyphosate and prosulfocarb, this fungicide is the 3rd most widely used pesticide in Europe. Classified as a probable carcinogen in the United States for nearly 30 years, and recognised as highly toxic in Europe and capable of causing serious reproductive problems “this product should have been removed from circulation a long time ago”, said the MEP.
The non-governmental organisation HEAL (Health and Environment Alliance) has hailed this a “victory for health”. “We congratulate the Commission and Member States for finally agreeing on the ban of mancozeb, a very widely used pesticide that disrupts our hormonal system and is toxic to reproduction. In order to deliver health protection, the new European chemical strategy must guarantee that bans of such harmful pesticides happen much faster”, said Natacha Cingotti, an expert from the NGO, on Monday 26 October. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)