21 Januari 2011
Brussels

Thank you Mr. Dalli

Today the decision on a non-inclusion in Directive 91/414 of the pesticide 1,3-Dichloropropene was published in the Official Journal. Health Commissioner Dalli therefore gets a big THANK YOU from PAN-Europe for holding ground in the battle which took almost half a year. Despite enormous pressure from southern Member States Spain, Greece, Portugal, Italy, supported by France and Belgium, political pressure from Belgium Presidency to accept a compromise, Mr.Dalli didn’t give in. Voting in November Agri Council didn’t produce a majority and Commission had to decide.

1,3-Dichloropropene could in fact not be included at all; an incomplete dossier must automatically lead to a non-inclusion according to Directive 91/414. And it should not be included being a carcinogen according to Food Authority EFSA. This time citizens and the environment won. PAN-Europe encourages Mr.Dalli to keep on defending the facts and science in the coming months in similar battles on nasty pesticides like Bifenthrin, Metam-Sodium, and Carbendazim.

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. The use of this harmful chemical is chemical is unnecessary as alternatives like crop rotation and resistant varieties 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:

1,3/Dichloropropene

For further information please contact:

Hans Muilerman, PAN Europe
Tel: +31 (0)6-55807255

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