Leading figures in the UK have joined agricultural scientists in calling on European Union policymakers to undertake a full impact assessment of new proposals governing pesticide 'cut-off' criteria.

A revision of regulation 91/414 is currently underway in Brussels, with implementation of new rules potentially leading to the banning of a number of plant protection products.

Many industry experts have are fearful that the loss of such substances could reduce EU farmers' protection against disease and viruses, eventually leading to severely reduced agricultural yields, and politicians have now also aired their concerns about the proposals.

'We remain concerned that the European Parliament's Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee is continuing to press for changes which could damage agriculture and food production wihtout meaningful benefits for health or the environment,' said Prime Minister Gordon Brown in a parliamentary letter.

And Environment Minister Lord hunt of King Heath added that any decision made by the European Commission should be backed by 'justified, science-based and proportionate' evidence that authorisation of pesticides needed strengthening.

'There are losses in the horticultural area, particularly, where at the moment there is nothing in the pipeline to replace those pesticides,' he said during a debate in the House of Lords.