In response to the demand of 260 000 citizens for pesticide reduction a meeting took place with representatives of the European Commission. The pesticide reduction law SUR didn’t get the necessary support, but the reduction of pesticide use remains a very important issue to ensure long-term food security, restore the necessary biodiversity and protect health.
On November 18, 2024, representatives of PAN Europe, WeMove Europe, and Ekō handed over a petition to European Commission officials, underscoring the European citizens’ demand for reduction of pesticide use. The petition gathered 260,000 signatures in just three months and serves as a reminder of the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) Save Bees and Farmers. It is another clear sign that EU citizens demand action to address the harmful impacts of pesticides on health and the environment. Citizens use numerous tools to voice their concerns, like in the Eurobarometers, the Conference on the Future of Europe, and in an IPSOS poll on pesticides. [1]
The meeting was held in the Commission building in Brussels. Representatives from the Directorate General for Health, Agriculture and the Environment from the European Commission met for an exchange of views with Martin Dermine and Natalija Svrtan from Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Europe and Taïme Smit Pellure from WeMove Europe.
Martin Dermine, Executive Director of PAN Europe provided an opening statement that set the stage for the discussions. Martin thanked the officials for taking the time to meet with the delegation. He emphasised the importance of the citizens' voices they were representing, as illustrated by the over 260,000 signatures collected in just three months as a reminder of the successful official Save Bees and Farmers citizens initiative.
The withdrawal of the Commission’s proposal for the Regulation on Sustainable Use of Plant Protection Products (SUR) in February 2024 was a setback in the work on reducing pesticide use. This regulation had been seen as a pivotal step towards achieving pesticide reduction goals. Under the second von der Leyen Commission, the priorities seem to have shifted, with pesticides not mentioned in Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi's mission letter. Instead, the focus has been placed on biocontrol products, which, while important, cannot substitute for comprehensive measures to reduce pesticide use, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), which is the best alternative to synthetic pesticides, offering a sustainable way to protect crops while preserving biodiversity and human health.
Taïme Smit Pellure representing the WeMove Europe platform delivered a powerful statement emphasising the grave health and environmental consequences of pesticide use in the EU - and how EU citizens are very aware of this reality. Highlighting the scientific consensus, Taïme pointed out that pesticides are linked to serious health conditions, including cancer, endocrine disruption, and neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's, with children being particularly vulnerable due to their developing immune and endocrine systems. She stressed that chronic low-level exposure, especially for those living near sprayed fields, compounds over time and leads to severe long-term health impacts. On the environmental side, Taïme underscored the devastating effects of pesticides on biodiversity, including the alarming decline of pollinators like bees and butterflies, as well as damage to aquatic organisms, soil, and water systems. She reiterated that the petitions gathering over 260,000 signatures in just three months demonstrate citizens’ continued demand for immediate and direct action to reduce pesticide use, prioritise human health, and protect the environment.
Natalija Svrtan, representing PAN Europe, emphasised that the Save Bees and Farmers European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) was the 7th successful ECI among many registered unsuccessful ECIs. Together with the earlier Stop Glyphosate ECI, it highlights the growing concerns among European citizens regarding the harmful impacts of pesticides on their health and the environment. Natalija pointed out that the European Commission, in its response to the Save Bees and Farmers ECI, had identified the proposed SUR as its answer. However, with the SUR now being withdrawn, the ECI remains effectively unanswered.
She criticised the Commission’s double standards, noting that the Commission acted swiftly in response to protests by farmers with tractors, removing environmental conditionality from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), yet ignored the voices of over a million EU citizens pleading for pesticide reduction. This has left citizens feeling betrayed and has heightened distrust in EU institutions. She concluded by stressing that the current Directive provides a solid framework but lacks implementation across Member States. Strengthening and enforcing implementation in all Member States should be the priority to achieve real pesticide use reduction in the EU.
Commission’s response to Citizens’ demands
During the meeting, Commission officials explained that the Sustainable Use Regulation (SUR) proposal had to be withdrawn due to its rejection by the European Parliament and concerns that it was not progressing in the right direction. Despite this, they reaffirmed their commitment to reducing pesticide use across the EU.
The discussion highlighted the availability of tools, such as the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Toolbox, designed to assist farmers in transitioning to more sustainable farming systems. Officials also noted the explicit link between the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and IPM implementation, which requires Member States to demonstrate how they meet the objectives of the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive (SUD).
A significant barrier stated during the meeting by the European Commission’s official was the lack of viable alternatives to synthetic pesticides, along with the challenges farmers face in reducing their use. It was noted that rules for biocontrol assessment introduced in 2022 aim to provide stronger support for farmers adopting sustainable practices.
The Commission has resumed work on the implementation of the Sustainable Use Directive. This will include audits and consultations with Member State experts. Additionally, there is an emphasis on protecting water resources through the Water Framework Directive and advancing initiatives to safeguard pollinators, essential for maintaining ecosystem services. Finally, it was highlighted that Agrowise, originally envisioned under the SUR, is being utilised to support the evidence-based implementation of the SUD, ensuring the achievement of its objectives.
Conclusion
The meeting ended with the conclusion that the pesticide reduction is, indeed, a necessary step forward to preserve the health of EU citizens and the natural resources essential for food security. The meeting was a good opportunity to remind the Commission to actively work on achieving the objectives for pesticide reduction. To achieve this, farmers need independent support systems to make this transition successfully. Independent advice, free from the influence of the pesticide industry, is crucial to help them to apply IPM principles effectively.
European citizens have demonstrated once again their concern for the harmful impacts of pesticides on human health and the environment. It is now up to EU policymakers to react and work on implementation of the Directive, prioritising actions that will lead to the widespread adoption of IPM across Member States. This will protect health, preserve biodiversity and natural resources, and restore trust between EU institutions and the citizens they serve.
Notes:
[1] Play it Safe: results from an IPSOS poll on pesticide use in EU Member States
