The European Commission (EC) has undertaken steps aimed at reducing the risk to human health and the environment by reviewing a list of pesticides available on the market before 1993, with around 250 of 1,000 substances passing the safety assessment.
Pesticides have undergone a detailed risk evaluation and authorisation procedure, the EC said, with a list of approved substances drawn up to ensure that only safe products are used in the European Union.
'Today represents a milestone in our effort to ensure improved protection of human health and the environment,' said EU health commissioner Androulla Vassiliou. 'The review of existing pesticides has lead to the removal of more than two-thirds of these substances. I can now say with confidence that our food has become greener.'
Of around 1,000 active substances tested during the review, 26 per cent passed with the majority (around 67 per cent) eliminated either as a result of missing or incomplete dossiers or their withdrawal from the industry.
70 substances failed the review completely and have subsequently been removed from the market altogether.
The database detailing the full list of active substances is listed here
