Imposing the pesticide reduction targets of the Farm to Fork strategy “without prior proven effective agronomic alternatives would affect food safety”, according to a working document published on Friday 17 March by the rapporteur for the opinion of the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee, Clara Aguilera (S&D, Spanish).
The European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee will discuss the matter at its meeting on Wednesday 22 March.
One of the most problematic aspects of the legislative proposal is the definition of sensitive areas and the prohibition of all plant protection products within these areas, according to the working document prepared by Ms Aguilera. The combination of this definition and ban “would have an impact on a large portion of the utilised agricultural area (UAA) in many Member States” (e.g. 40% in Spain, 80% in France and up to 100% of the UAA in some northern European countries).
With regard to the target of a 50% reduction in the use of pesticides, the rapporteur notes that the calculation method does not take into account the differences in the exposure of crops to pests or in the susceptibility of crops to pests, depending on the growing region (with a large difference between Mediterranean and continental areas).
Finally, according to Ms Aguilera, there is a need for additional EU funding for farmers to take account of the new constraints regarding the reduction of pesticide use.
The Agriculture Committee is expected to adopt its opinion in July. The Environment Committee plans to adopt the draft report by Sarah Wiener (Greens/EFA, Austrian) in September (see EUROPE 13119/1), with a view to a plenary vote in October (see EUROPE 13143/10).
Link to Ms Aguilera’s working document: https://aeur.eu/f/5w3 (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)