On Tuesday 24 October, the European Parliament’s Environment Committee adopted a fairly ambitious position in favour of reducing the use and risks of all chemical pesticides by at least 50% by 2030.
The Environment Committee adopted (47 votes in favour, 37 against and 2 abstentions) the report by Sarah Wiener (Greens/EFA, Austrian) and the numerous compromise amendments negotiated by Ms Wiener with the S&D, Renew Europe, Greens/EFA and The Left groups (see EUROPE 13276/12).
Speaking to the press, Ms Wiener noted that “all the political groups, except the right and extreme right”, had agreed to compromise. “We have a solid majority”, she said, before specifying that pesticides used in agriculture would continue to be authorised.
MEPs amended the original proposal so that by 2030 the EU would reduce the use and risk of chemical plant protection products by at least 50% and the use of ‘more dangerous products’ by 65% compared to the 2013-2017 average (-50% for both types of pesticides, based on a 2015-2017 average, according to the original proposal).
Each Member State will have to adopt national targets, based on annual sales of the substances, the level of danger and the size of their agricultural area. The Commission will check whether national targets need to be more ambitious to meet the European targets for 2030.
Member States should put in place specific rules for at least five crops where a reduction in the use of chemical pesticides would have the greatest impact.
MEPs want to ban the use of chemical pesticides (with the exception of those authorised for organic farming and biological control) in sensitive areas and in a five-metre buffer zone, such as all urban green spaces, including parks, playgrounds, sports fields, public footpaths and Natura 2000 areas. “Countries will be able to obtain exemptions if there are no alternatives”, said Ms Wiener.
MEPs believe that EU countries must ensure that chemical pesticides are only used as a last resort. They want the Commission to set a target for the EU in 2030 for increasing sales of low-risk pesticides, 6 months after the regulation comes into force. At the same time, the Commission should evaluate methods for speeding up the authorisation process for low-risk pesticides and biocontrol products.
By December 2025, the Commission will have to examine the differences in pesticide use on imported agricultural and agri-food products compared to European products and, if necessary, propose measures to ensure that imports comply with equivalent standards. In addition, the export of pesticides not approved in the EU will be banned.
The European Parliament vote will take place at the plenary session from 20 to 23 November in Strasbourg. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)