The Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC) has thanked the industry for rallying behind the UK in its ultimately unsuccessful bid to prevent new pesticide legislation, and is urging them to “continue to galvanize” the opposition to the directive.

Following a meeting with Hilary Benn in which industry organisations, including the Food Forum which has bolstered the current campaign, looked at how to go forward in opposing the plans the FPC is continuing in its drive to attain a full impact assessment for the Plant Protection Products Directive 91/414/EEC.

Nigel Jenney, chief executive of the FPC, told freshinfo: “I would like to thank the industry, on behalf of the FPC, for their support in lobbying UK MEPs. It was very impressive and the majority of UK MEPS voted against the proposals.

“We were murdered [overall], to be frank, but about two-thirds of UK MEPS went in favour of rejecting so our work did help.

“The next step is certainly very critical - to achieve what we want we need to change the interpretation and derogation to allow the industry to create good quality, safe and affordably food.

A derogation would mean that, should there be no alternative product available to combat a serious risk to plant health, then a banned pesticide may continue to be used for another five years despite failing European Union guidelines.

“I would like to re-iterate that we support the safe use of pesticides and do not want to see all products available but they do already go through rigorous checks. At the moment we have a considerable way to go to find a solution that meets the needs of consumers but uses indigenous produce to achieve that.

“We need to convince Europe of the scale of the impact this could cause, not just on agriculture but manufacturers and ultimately to UK health too if prices rise as a result,” he said.

Jenney also confirmed they would continue the fight until the directive was finally passed by European Agriculture Council.