Of the 55 pesticides officially classified as candidates for substitution because they are particularly toxic and persistent, 35 are still marketed in Germany in about 310 authorised spray products, the NGO PAN (Pesticide Action Network) Germany denounced on 1 July.
PAN Europe has identified 12 of the 55 substances in question as being particularly dangerous. Eleven of them are used in Germany, including ipconazole, a fungicide that is toxic for reproduction, lambda-cyhalothrin, a toxic insecticide that is dangerous for the environment, and chlortoluron, a herbicide that is not only dangerous for the environment, but also probably an endocrine disruptor, yet is authorised in products intended for non-professionals for home gardens.
PAN Germany welcomes the proposed binding Regulation on the sustainable use of pesticides (see EUROPE 12977/16) to enforce what should have been done 10 years ago. However, the NGO believes that “the federal government should now take the lead and start removing these particularly problematic pesticides from the market without delay”.
As part of the ‘Toxic12’ campaign, PAN Europe is calling for a direct ban on the 12 most toxic candidates for substitution and the complete elimination of the use of the 55 listed pesticides by 2030.
The number of residues of these particularly dangerous substances in fruit and vegetables has increased dramatically over the last 10 years (see EUROPE 12945/16). (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)