The European horticulture industry is facing a “bleak future” if MEPs in the European Parliament vote in favour of proposals to limit the number of pesticide products available in EU countries, a fresh produce lobbying group has claimed this week.
According to the UK’s Fresh Produce Consortium, the EU is today (17 December) expected to finalise plans to impose restrictions on the substances that can be sold to growers in Europe.
The group claimed the proposals, which will go to the European Parliament for a plenary vote early next year, will “reduce growers’ ability to fight common pests, weeds and diseases”.
“We could be facing a bleak future after MEPs vote in the New Year on these proposals,” claimed Fresh Produce Consortium chief executive Nigel Jenney. “The horticulture industry already has a limited choice of crop protection products approved for use on minor crops.
“These proposals will axe a number of key substances which are critical to the production of produce such as peas, carrots, parsnips, and onions, and will affect fruits such as strawberries, raspberries, pears and apples.”
Mr Jenney argued that “it may become uneconomic” to grow certain horticultural crops in the UK, claiming that consumers will see fruit and vegetable prices “go through the roof”.
According to an updated agronomic assessment by the UK’s Pesticides Safety Directorate, the proposals could remove up to 23 per cent of the crop protection products used in fruit and vegetables production across Europe.
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