The Stockbridge Technology Centre (STC) has lent its weight in the campaign against the proposed EU pesticide laws due to be decided upon on Monday.
The STC fears the directive could mean that, as from 2011, horticultural businesses will start to decline in the UK as pest, disease and weed control either become too expensive or not possible at all.
Countries from outside the EU will still be able to access a more comprehensive range of plant protection chemicals.
Between now and 2011 the industry may also be losing significant products and specific on-label uses from those already registered as part of the current review.
Graham Ward OBE, of STC and the Yorkshire and Humber Rural Affairs Forum chair, said: “No sector of our industry will escape and although problems will be worse for edibles and particularly crops which rely on extensions like herbs, there are also significant problems for flower and ornamental growers.
“We need to ensure every grower in the country writes to their local MEP this week. The letter needs to reflect the potential damage to your individual businesses. We at STC will write about the total conflict of this regulation with the potential health benefits from eating fruit and vegetables.
“There is a good dose of irony here…on the one hand the ‘Health’ parts of the EU are allocating money to promote fruit and vegetables and on the other hand this lot are decreasing its availability and increasing its cost.
“If we can stall the legislation we can make much more play of the risk and healthy eating agenda when it comes back for review…which it will,” he said.
Defra secretary of state Hilary Benn re-iterated his stand against the directive as currently posed at the Oxford Farming Conference on Tuesday.
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