On Thursday 30 June members of the European Parliament’s Environment Committee called on the European Commission to provide guarantees on food security or mechanisms to verify compliance with the target of reducing pesticide use by 50%.
Commissioner for Health Stella Kyriakides defended the proposed regulation on the sustainable use of pesticides before the committee (see EUROPE 12977/16).
Several MEPs in the EPP, Renew Europe and ECR groups expressed concern about the impact of the text on yields and the quality of agricultural production.
Emma Wiesner (Renew Europe, Ireland) regretted that the announced study on food security had not been carried out in advance of the proposal (see EUROPE 12978/34). She also denounced the insufficient consideration given to historical efforts.
Christine Schneider (EPP, Germany) said it was “excellent” to replace chemical pesticides with natural ones, but security of supply had to be discussed. She advocated a broader toolbox than just pesticide reduction measures. Ljudmila Novak (EPP, Slovenia) said that the administrative burden on small farmers should be reduced.
Meeting objectives. Bas Eickhout (Greens/EFA, Netherlands), on the other hand, expressed concern that the Commission would be powerless if a State set too low a reduction target. Ms Kyriakides promised a “transparent” dialogue with the Member States.
Sara Cerdas (S&D, Portugal) also asked about procedures in the event of non-compliance and pointed out that 70% of soil is in a very bad condition.
Pernille Weiss (EPP, Denmark) deplored the lack of fast-track procedures to register organic pesticides. Jan Huitema (Renew Europe, Netherlands) warned against the EU’s dependence on imports of third-country products containing pesticides. Finally, the monitoring of pollinators is missing from the proposal, regretted Martin Hojsík (Renew Europe, Slovakia).
Commissioner Kyriakides said that the Commission had approved 20 new low-risk substances. Alternatives are needed that come to market quickly to ensure the transition. And there will be shorter approval times, she added.
On the reduction targets (50%), a minimum limit of 35% is provided for, recalled Ms Kyriakides. “It is not conceivable that a Member State will not meet its target. Ambitious targets are needed”, said the Commissioner. “If progress is too slow, we will act”, she continued.
In 2023, the Commission will make a proposal on ‘New Breeding Techniques’ and will “soon” present a proposal on pollinator protection.
The appointment of the European Parliament rapporteurs on pesticides and ecosystem restoration is expected in early July. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)