Six UK farming and food groups, led by the Crop Protection Association (CPA), have come together in a bid to urge the UK government not to eliminate or weaken the role of two important committees responsible for providing independent advice on pesticide issues.
The organisations, including CPA, Agricultural Industries Confederation, BCPC, Country Land and business Association, Fresh Produce Consortium and National Farmers Union, have expressed concern about the future of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides and the Pesticide Residues Committee in light of anticipated government cost-cutting measures.
'Modern crop protection products have a key role to play in safeguarding the quality, availability and affordability of our food supply. But the use of pesticides remains a high profile area, which can involve sensitive and emotive issues and is regularly subjected to public scrutiny,' said Dominic Dyer, chief executive of the CPA. 'It is therefore important to be able to demonstrate that the processes in place to control their registration and use are scientifically robust and transparent, particularly at a time of heightened concern over food security and rising food prices.'
Mr Dyer pointed out that the Advisory Committee on Pesticides performed an essential role providing independent, expert advice directly to Ministers on all pesticide matters, while noting that the work of the Pesticide Residues Committee over the past 10 years had helped put the issue of residues into perspective against the health benefits of a plentiful and affordable supply of fresh fruit and vegetables.
'We recognise that Ministers face tough spending decisions, but it would be false economy to do away with the bodies which have helped make such significant progress in improving the level of public confidence in pesticide controls,' he concluded.
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