12 November 2010
Brussels

Huge pressure on Health Commissioner Mr. Dalli to allow dumping of harmful chemical waste -used as a pesticide- in agriculture.

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. Attaché's are discussing the inclusion or non-inclusion in the old pesticide Directive 91/414 for some time now. EU President Belgium is proposing a compromise which largely allows use. PAN-Europe calls on Mr. Dalli to stick to a strict NO to 1,3-Dichloropropene.

1,3-Dichloropropene is a probable carcinogen (in vivo genotoxic substance according to EFSA) and a chemical waste product from the epoxy resin production. Several chemical components of this waste stream are unknown and cannot be evaluated. 1,3-Dichloropropene is not allowed on the market because of the harmful effects and the lack of data on impurities. However Spain, Greece, Portugal, Italy and also Belgium still use the illegal pesticide regularly on the basis of an emergency clause (art. 8.4) in the Directive.

1,3-Dichloropropene is used in huge quantities in agriculture to sterilise the soil. For people living around fields it poses a big danger because most of the chemical will evaporate soon. 1,3-Dichloropropene serves to keep monocultures in place which need a periodical 'reset'. This is done by eradicating soil biodiversity, the worst thing to do from a sustainable point of view. Hans Muilerman, PAN Europe's Chemical Officer said: "The use of this harmful chemical is chemical is unnecessary as alternatives like crop rotation are available". Allowing the chemical would also be in complete contradiction to the new Sustainable Use Directive (SUD) of DG SANCO which states alternatives get priority and soil biodiversity needs to be enhanced.


Background notes:
(1) Click here for our factsheet on 1,3 Dichloropropene

For further information please contact:
Hans Muilerman, PAN Europe
Tel: +31 (0)6-55807255

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