Press releases

New report of PAN-Europe on loopholes, derogations & backdoors in EU pesticide authorisations.

Today the decision on a non-inclusion in Directive 91/414 of the pesticide 1,3-Dichloropropene was published in the Official Journal.

Today, the Environment Council of the European Union adopted its political agreement on a new authorisation system for household pesticides and other biocides.

Brussels

EU Health and Consumer Affair's Commissionor John Dalli has been asked to encourage faster, stronger implementation of pesticides policy in an open letter from the Health and Environment Alliance and Pesticides Action Network Europe (1).

As a result of recent EU legislation, Member States are asked to reduce pesticide use to protect health and the environment. But groups are concerned that deadlines related to National Action Plans on the sustainable use of pesticides scheduled for 14 December 2011 and 2012 will not be met. (2)

While the proposal does enhance permanent pasture, green cover, crop rotation and ecological set-aside to become mandatory “greening” component of direct payments, the real potential of such an approach is not truly highlighted.

Spain, Italy and several other EU member states like Portugal and Belgium are pressurizing SANCO Commissioner Mr. Dalli to propose an approval of the nasty pesticide and soil fumigant 1,3-Dichloropropene in Council end of this month.

Today Belgium Presidency organises an international Round Table on the use of science in food policy thereby given EFSA the floor as key speaker.

Joint Press Release

PAN Germany, PAN Europe, HEAL, HCWH Europe, WECF and EEB criticise the EP vote on the biocide regulation.

Hamburg

On 22 June the European Parliament’s Environment Committee will vote on new EU provisions on the authorisation and marketing of hazardous products like wood preservatives and insecticide sprays. But leading environmental and health campaign groups, Pesticide Action Network Germany, PAN Europe, and Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF), fear that MEPs may lack the courage to ban all highly hazardous products, a move campaigners see as essential to protect consumers and the environment.

As Christmas approaches, PAN Europe has asked if the fresh food on Europe's dining tables is safe. Its survey, in four EU countries this autumn, shows that most produce sampled had multiple traces of harmful pesticides, often several times maximum permitted doses.