Pesticide action may hit farmers
He abstained from a vote in the EU Agriculture Council of Ministers when it recently reached agreement on proposed EU legislation on the authorisation of plant protection products.
Crop protection companies say proposals supported by the Council will lead to the removal of 25% of crop protection substances.
Original European Parliament proposals would have prohibited about 80% of pesticides currently on the market, and would have left EU farmers with only two approved insecticides.
The ministers had spent two years debating stricter controls on use of pesticides. Later this year, if the European Parliament continues its pressure for tougher controls, the Parliament and Council will have to thrash out a compromise.
The Agriculture Council agreement was strongly backed by the French, Italian and Czech delegations, while Britain was the strongest opponent, supported by Ireland, Romania and Hungary. It was agreed that carcinogenic chemicals, or those harmful to human hormones or reproduction, would be banned. Pesticides will now be approved regionally.
Ministers agreed any country that cannot replace a pesticide may seek permission to continue to use it.
