Europe’s fresh produce trade body Freshfel says a number of major concerns remain after the European Parliament Environment Committee (EPEC) adopted its second reading amendments to the proposed EU pesticide package.
The proposals have caused much unrest in several EU countries in the last few weeks, as the industry wakes up to the potentially devastating loss of much-needed crop protection chemicals to the continent’s growers.
Recognising that a limited number of plant protection solutions are available to the fruit and vegetable industry, the EPEC called for the European Commission to propose a new fund to promote greater availability of active substances for minor uses and to simplify the approval process.
However, Freshfel is concerned about proposals for future authorisation of plant protection products and the introduction of additional cut-off criteria, which it believes will phase even more active substances out compared to the previous compromise agreed between member states. The trade body said the current proposals show “more sense than most of the first reading amendments”, but they still fall short of understanding the precise needs of growers who could be deprived of key chemicals for controlling pests.
Freshfel has called for a derogation clause to allow certain active substances to stay in use until suitable alternatives are developed.
The EPEC rejected proposals to establish three geographical approval zones to enhance harmonisation of the approval process, preferring a single zone with several opt-out options for member states. “As the current system has led to competition distortion among farmers in different member states, and in some cases confused the public on supposedly illegal pesticides, Freshfel believes that the principle of enhanced mutual recognition among member states should be safeguarded as much as possible and opt-outs reduced to a strict minimum,” said Freshfel in a statement.
More than a third of the EPEC voted against the proposals on Wednesday, and a number of MEPs are known to object, so Freshfel is still hopeful or a reasonable compromise during negotiations with member states. Food safety adviser Frederic Rosseneu said: “We will continue to work constructively alongside the EU institutions and stakeholders to achieve a satisfactory result for the EU horticulture sector.”
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