The European Crop Protection Association (ECPA) is lobbying MEPs to “cast a vote for the range and variety of fruits and vegetables which make up Europe’s dining tables every day”.

The European Parliament’s environment committee will vote on June 5 on legislation controlling the availability of plant protection for EU growers. On Tuesday, Mediterranean growers joined representatives from the ECPA and spoke openly to MEPs about the threat to Europe’s ability to produce citrus, apples, tomatoes and grapes, if new legislation does not provide effective plant protection solutions.

Neil Parish MEP introduced four growers from the Mediterranean region, all speaking out on the importance of the necessary range of plant protection solutions.

Among the growers present were Paul Dolleman of Vitacress and Benito Orihuel of Anecoop. Orihuel explained integrated pest management. “Use [of pesticides] cannot fall to zero, as pests continue to attack Europe’s fruit and vegetable crops”, he said. “Losses to crops not only impact growers and packers but the European economy and society at large.”

The ECPA is urging MEPs considering the forthcoming revision to directive 91/414/EEC, which governs access to plant protection products, to ensure any new regulation is science based, proportionate, and provides member states with flexibility in granting approvals.

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