EU moves on pesticide reduction

THE European Parliament’s environment committee voted last week to force member states to reduce by at least 50% use of pesticides “of very high concern” and those classified as “toxic or very toxic”.

The environment committee voted 58 to three, with two abstentions, in favour of reducing pesticide use. The full parliament’s vote on the pesticides package is scheduled for mid-January.

Before legislation can come into force in mid-2010 difficult negotiations are likely between the parliament and EU agriculture ministers, who want different regulations for northern, central, and southern regions of the EU, and exceptional five-year authorisations of hazardous substances if bans pose serious risk to crop production.