Europe plans to tighten controls on food pesticides

PESTICIDES used on food should be halved in the coming decade thanks to new controls being votedon by the European Parliament.

The most dangerous chemicals used on fruit, vegetables and cereals will be banned, together with aerial spraying and there should be a 10m buffer zone to prevent the pesticides blowing into nearby water or adjacent crops.

Half of all cereals and fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables tested in Ireland have some chemical residues, with 3% having more than the safe limits. The EU average is about 46% with about 5% exceeding the limit.