Growers in the UK have been warned the new EU regulations on pesticides could severely affect crop volumes and eventually put some companies out of business.
Andrew Tinsley, technical and communications manager at the Horticultural Development Company, said that some substances are to be banned “regardless of risk” and could subsequently lead to lower yields and higher costs, sending some growers bust.
Tinsley told an audience at the House of Commons, attending the bicentenary celebrations of the Bramley apple, the correct balance needs to be found between the intrinsic hazard and actual risks of a product.
He said: “The highly restrictive definitions of ‘cut-off’ criteria focus only on hazard, and taking no account of risk management could result in the loss of important parts of the growers’ tool kit, resulting in lower yields, poorer quality and higher costs.
“This will drive growers out of the industry and will open the door to more imports and larger carbon footprints. The potential situation is most serious for some vegetable crops, especially carrots and salad leaves.”
Legislation is being revised to be based on the intrinsic hazards from the use of a substance, meaning if a pesticide has a particular property that triggers one of the hazard ‘cut-off’ criteria it is likely to be banned.
Tinsley believes three areas need to be clarified in the proposed Plant Protection Products Directive 91/414/EEC - the possible substitute products involved; the possible derogation for some products with no alternatives; and a European fund for minor uses of products.
“Some products could be withdrawn because lower risk products for the same job have been identified but this ignores the fact that these substitutes might not do the job as well and [the industry needs] more than one product to stop resistance building up.
“We need a limited derogation for continued approval of substances that breach some of the ‘cut-off’ criteria but where no alternatives are available, and until alternatives are developed. A European fund for minor uses of products is really important for minor crops such as fruit and vegetables - we are always struggling to get products suitable for horticulture.
“There is more to be done to ensure that a rational approach is taken in this legislation, based on sound science, so that we can safely feed our population with healthy, fresh local produce.”
International consultation on the legislation is ongoing, with DEFRA secretary of state Hilary Benn leading the UK’s opposition to it, but there has been considerable feeling in the UK industry it has received little support from horticulture across Europe.
No comments yet