On Monday 21 March in Brussels, the agriculture ministers of several EU Member States expressed their concerns about the targets that will be binding in the forthcoming proposal on reducing the use of plant protection products.
The Commission was due to adopt a proposal for a regulation on the sustainable use of pesticides on 23 March, but the dossier has been postponed, partly due to the adoption of the Communication on food safety (see EUROPE 12915/3).
The 50% pesticide reduction target would be made binding on the EU, but not on Member States, which would set their own targets, according to the draft seen by EUROPE (https://aeur.eu/f/7J ).
Staying the course. During Monday’s Council meeting, Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides did not want to make a clear statement on whether or not the adoption of the proposal by the College would be postponed. She admitted that “the Russian invasion of Ukraine is turning everything upside down”. “We have to adapt to reality, but we also have to stay the course. Sustainability is an urgent issue too”, the Commissioner argued. “The initial date of 23 March will no longer be the date that has now been agreed”, said the Council’s current president, Julien Denormandie, in conclusion.
At the press conference, EU Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski confirmed that the text will not be discussed by the College of Commissioners on 23 March.
During the Council, Poland, supported by a dozen delegations (Romania, Slovakia, the Baltic States, Austria, Hungary, Greece, etc.) criticised the fact that the 50% reduction in pesticides was made binding “when no scientific study justifies this” (https://aeur.eu/f/vx ). Such a level of reduction risks “jeopardising agricultural production and the security of food supply”, according to the Polish delegation. Slovenia denounced the lack of alternatives available in case of pesticide withdrawal.
Spain felt that a “flexible and realistic” level of ambition should be achieved and that precision farming should be promoted.
The French minister, Mr Denormandie, highlighted that “Europe’s food independence is essential”, and that the future text on pesticides should respect the following principles: “No ban without a solution, investing in alternatives and using science for progress”.
The EPP is calling for a “review” of the targets. “We have called on the European Commission to postpone all legislation that could reduce food production”, said Herbert Dorfmann MEP (EPP, Italy) on Tuesday 22 March. The Commission must, according to the EPP group, “review the targets and timetable of the proposals” for the ‘Farm to Fork’ and ‘Biodiversity’ strategies, especially the one on plant protection products. The Commission is also called upon to carry out “a thorough impact assessment of these proposals”. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)