For reasons related to environmental protection and a democratic deficit, the European Parliament could oppose a European Commission draft (implementing regulation EU 2021/621) aiming to amend Regulation (EU) No 37/2010—which sets a residue limit value (MRL) for imidacloprid for aquatic use—on Thursday, 10 June. Imidacloprid is an active substance in pesticides that kills bees (see EUROPE 12714/16) and a pharmacologically active substance.
Having received an application for the authorisation of this substance in salmonids, the European Medicines Agency recommended setting the MRL for imidacloprid at 0.6 mg/kg (600 µg/kg) for all finfish.
The draft resolution notably points out that there is mounting evidence that the use of imidacloprid has a devastating impact on biodiversity, especially on that of rivers and waterways.
It indicates that this implementing regulation is not compatible with EU law, since it violates the freedom of information and the fundamental principles of transparency, democratic scrutiny, and accountability, given that the opinion of the Committee for Medicinal Products for Veterinary Use on this matter has only been made available in summary.
The European Parliament can reportedly request that the European Commission repeal the implementing regulation and submit a new draft that includes imidacloprid in the list of pharmacologically active substances for which no maximum limits can be fixed for aquatic use.
See the text: https://bit.ly/3w587PM (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)