The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has called on all EU member states to think long and hard about the impact a poor compromise deal on pesticide authorisations could have on Europe’s farmers and growers.
The call comes as critical decisions could be taken by MEPs this week on the basis of a new Slovenian presidency compromise on the conditions that would lead to the prohibition of certain pesticides from the market.
Speaking ahead of forthcoming meetings in Brussels with representatives of the European Commission, NFU President Peter Kendall said: “The recent report from the Pesticide Safety Directorate on the impact of the EU Commission’s proposals on cut-off criteria should be a warning for everyone involved in the current debate on food security.
“In recent weeks I have written formally to commissioners Vassiliou and Fischer-Boel warning of the dire consequences of a bad deal on pesticides. Although the latest compromise text for member states to discuss recognises the essential nature of some substances, we still have very grave fears the cut-off criteria set out in the document could still lead to a substantial loss of necessary crop protection products and a consequent reduction in food production. Yesterday we wrote to all our counterparts in the EU raising these concerns in the strongest terms.
“Member states must act with a clear conscience about the impact of their decisions on both farmers and consumers, not just in terms of consumer safety, but also the very ability to feed the EU.”
Kendall continued: “They must not put the political expediency to get a deal ahead of achieving a sensible and proportionate agreement that factors in wider issues such as resistance, integrated pest management and risk.
“Ahead of next week’s EU summit meeting, at which food security and high food prices will take centre stage, it would be ironic if the EU voted in favour of a political fudge that contributed to reducing food production.
“We are also urging all members states to carry out their own full impact assessments on the proposals, which should help to convince MEPs the position they took at the first plenary vote last October would greatly reduce food production at a time when exactly the opposite is needed,” Kendall added.
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