A majority of citizens surveyed in seven EU countries want to gradually phase out pesticide use and oppose their approval without periodic review, according to a YouGov poll published on Thursday 5 November by the NGO Pesticide Action Network Europe (PAN Europe).
The survey (https://aeur.eu/f/oac ), carried out in France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Romania and Spain, shows that 68% of respondents in Spain and as many as 80% in Romania would like to see a complete phase-out of pesticides, even if alternatives are not immediately available. According to the NGO, support for increased pesticide use ranges from just 1% to 3%, depending on the country.
Approvals with no time limit receive only 4% to 6% support from respondents in France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Poland, and Spain, and 10% in Romania.
Those surveyed tend to favour more frequent re-evaluations of substances. This option garners between 50% and 72% support, depending on the country. By political group, support ranges from 49% amongst voters for the Patriots for Europe (PfE) to 89% amongst those in the Greens/EFA group. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)