10th July 2013
Brussels

EXPPERT Survey II: Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals and banned Pesticides in strawberries

The worrying results of the survey show the need for an ambitious policy on endocrine disrupting chemicals.

EXPPERT investigations. In order to show the urgency of a strong preventive action in the endocrine disrupting chemicals area, these substances which threaten the unborn and young children development even at low doses, PAN Europe French Member Générations Futures has decided to conduct several reports EXPPERT based on analyses showing the ubiquity of many endocrine disruptors pesticides in our environment leading to a significant exposure of the population.
Because the unborn as well as the young children are particularly vulnerable to the dangers related to endocrine disrupting chemicals, even at low doses, Générations Futures wanted to do a campaign analysis of a common fruit, often eaten  by pregnant women and  young children. That is why Générations Futures decided to launch a campaign of analysis of pesticide residues in strawberries sold in France (produced in France and Spain).

Results: Many Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals. Out of 49 samples analysed, 91.83% contained one or more pesticide residues and in total, 71.42% of the samples contained pesticides Endocrine Disruptors! (35/49)

• 65.38% of the French samples had at least one pesticide residue Endocrine Disruptor (17/26)
• 78.26% of the Spanish samples have at least one pesticide residue Endocrine Disruptor (18/23).

Banned products. These analyses also revealed the presence of residues of EU wide banned or prohibited from use pesticides on strawberries in the producing countries -France and Spain-

Pesticides banned in the European Union:

• 2 out of the 26 French samples (ie 7.69%) contained endosulfan, an organochlorine insecticide banned in Europe since 2005 and on the list of Persistent Organic Pollutants to be eliminated globally under the Stockholm Convention, convention implemented under the authority of the UN.
• 2 out of the 23 Spanish samples (ie 8.69%) contained carbosulfan, an insecticide banned in Europe since 2007!

Prohibited from use pesticides on strawberry in the producing countries:

• 3 other French samples out of the 26 (11.53%) contained active substances (AS) authorized in France but not on strawberry: 2 containing flonicamid and the third one acetamiprid.
• 2 other Spanish samples out of the 23 (8.69%) contained AS authorized in Spain but not authorized for the strawberries production: one containing spirotetramat and the other dimetomorf.

"We alert our policy makers on the need to take immediate and strong measures to reduce human exposure to pesticides and endocrine disrupting chemicals adopting ambitious policies" said François Veillerette Générations Futures spokesman and PAN Europe president.

"In addition, the presence of pesticides banned in Europe or in the strawberry cultivation in more than 18% of the samples tested is simply unacceptable. Again, we expect a strong government action in order to quickly put an end to this situation, in this culture as well as all the others. " he added.

Further information

Press Contacts:  François Veillerette : 0033 6 81 64 65 58 – Nadine Lauverjat : 00 33 6 87 56 27 54

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