Concerns over the impact of restrictive new EU rules on pesticide approvals have focused predominantly on the loss of essential crop protection tools to European producers.

It is estimated that switching the approval of pesticides away from the established approach, based on scientific assessment of risk, to the use of hazard-based ‘cut-off’ criteria, will result in the loss of some 15-20 per cent of currently approved crop protection products with a demonstrable track record of safe and effective use.

Independent experts have warned of the potentially damaging effect this could have on crop yields, quality and the affordability of fresh fruit and vegetables to consumers within the EU. Removing vital crop protection products could also increase the agricultural industry’s carbon footprint as farmers are forced to replace sprays with more cultivations.

But the damaging consequences are not confined to Europe. As I learnt at a recent gathering of senior representatives from the primary agriculture and fresh produce sectors in Johannesburg, the knock-on effects of EU policy could have a significant impact on the future development of food production and export earnings in developing countries such as South Africa.

Thanks to the development of modern, large-scale agriculture and horticulture, South Africa is today not only self-sufficient in virtually all major agricultural products, but is also a major net exporter. Farming and food productionare key drivers for the South African economy, employing over six million people and contributing some eight per cent of the country’s total exports.

In particular, South Africa’s counter-seasonality to Europe - the country’s primary export market for fresh produce and cut flowers - is a major competitive advantage, and exports to the EU ofhigh quality productssuch as citrus fruits, apples, pears and avocados are of critical importance to the country’s future economic growth.

However, much of this trade is now being put at risk as European food retailers place additional restrictions on how South African producers grow their crops, in order to comply with newEU pesticide rules.

This is the untold story of how unduly restrictive EU legislation, based on the misguided and ill-informed prejudices of Western consumers, is threatening to block the development of fragile economies in the developing world.

Although Europe is South Africa’s biggest trade and investment partner, accounting for over 40 per cent of its imports and 30 per cent of its exports,EU policy-makers have failed to consider the impact of new EU pesticide legislation on South African agriculture and food exports.

South Africa has been identified as aprincipal development partner for the EU and is earmarked to receive over one billion euros in development aid over the next decade, and yet South African farmers and food producers could face losses in excess of this figure if they can no longer export their products to Europe.

As South Africa struggles to cope with the global economic downturn and maintain economic growth to improve the living standards of a majority of its population living below the poverty line, the EU should be looking to increase trade and investment rather than placing additional barriers on food exports through an increasingly restrictive pesticide policy.

Dominic Dyer is chief executive of the Crop Protection Association.

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