Press releases

Civil society groups from around the world have come together today to denounce the European Union’s toxic double standards. In a symbolic action in front of the European Commission in Brussels, campaigners returned 75 boxes - one for each pesticide active substance banned for use in the EU but still massively exported abroad.

On 20 November, the Belgian Council of State ruled illegal three authorisations granted to abamectin-based pesticides, an insecticide highly toxic to the environment and suspected of being genotoxic to humans.

The European Commission cannot systematically and automatically grant extensions of pesticide approvals in case of delays in the re-assessment process. This was clarified by the EU Court of Justice today in a case started by PAN Europe. The ruling should limit the recurrent practice of extending the approval for pesticides year after year without evaluation of risks to health and the environment.

A draft Omnibus regulation on Food and Feed reveals that the European Commission’s DG SANTE is attempting to deregulate all chemical pesticides. This comes under the guise of “simplification”, intended to facilitate access to the market to safer bio-pesticides. The proposal would grant indefinite EU approval of pesticide active substances, while removing the obligation for Member States to consider the most recent independent scientific evidence during national pesticide product authorisations.

Bayer has officially joined the European Commission in defending glyphosate before the European Court. Earlier this year, PAN Europe and five of its members took the EU decision to court for renewing glyphosate until 2033. They presented strong evidence of risks to health and the environment, and failure to comply with EU law for a high level of protection. The next step will be a hearing, but no date is set yet.

138 civil society, scientific, water, and farming organisations across Europe have called on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to fully enforce the EU Pesticide legislation.

Today, EU lawmakers listened to citizens and science and rubber-stamped the deal on the Soil Monitoring Law, the EU’s first-ever law on soil health, after months of negotiations. Despite severe shortcomings of the endorsed text, this is an important milestone towards addressing Europe’s crisis of soil degradation. Its success will depend on impactful implementation.

Today, the General Court of the EU clarified in a judgement that EU Member States are required to demand toxicity data for co-formulants used in pesticides. The absence of such data in the pesticide industry applications must inevitably lead to a rejection of the request and a suspension of the national authorisation.

Het Pesticide Action Network vraagt in een spoedprocedure bij het College van Beroep voor het bedrijfsleven (CBb) een verbod op gebruik van het bestrijdingsmiddel Pitcher met een hormoonverstorende stof in de open lucht. Het wetenschappelijk bewijs voor schade aan de gezondheid is overtuigend, maar Ctgb laat het middel zonder beperkingen toe. De instantie werd in dit dossier al eerder op de vingers getikt door het Europees Hof en daarna ook door het CBb, de hoogste bestuursrechter in Nederland voor dit soort zaken.

Today, on World Food Day, PAN Europe and Friends of the Earth Europe publish a new report, showcasing farmers and municipalities successfully eliminating or minimising pesticide use. The impressive and inspiring work of these farmers, and many others, should encourage policy-makers to support and ensure the wide uptake of ecologically sound practices and the phase out of harmful pesticides.