October - November 2006
1. PAN Europe activities
Open letter to Commissioner Kyprianou calls for the
protection of bees against toxic pesticides
Farmer and beekeeper associations, joined by consumers
and environmental organisations asked for the ban of several substances
highly toxic for bees in an attempt to improve the current situation
of beekeeping in Europe. The four substances (clothianidin, thiamethoxam,
imidacloprid, fipronil) have been associated with the decline
in bee colonies throughout Europe and are being revised under Directive
91/414/EEC for the placing of pesticides in the EU market. Clothianidin
and thiamethoxam have recently been re-approved for use in the European
market, while imidacloprid and fipronil are being discussed at the
regulatory committee level.
The substances are systemic, neurotoxic and persistent in the environment
and carry acute toxicity to bees. The current Directive for placing
pesticides in the market requires that the dossier for substances
with a hazard quotient (HQ) higher than 50 must be complemented
with additional tests in order to fully “appreciate the effects
(of the product) on honeybee larvae, on honeybee behaviour, colony
survival and development after use of the plant protection product
according to the proposed conditions of use”. The toxicity
of these substances for bees is significant; with HQ reaching surprising
figures. For example, for imidacloprid, HQ reaches 40,540 for the
oral exposure route and 1,852 by contact. For clothianidin, HQ scores
more than 10,000 for the oral exposure route. But while the required
additional tests on the colony are insufficient, tests on bee brood
have simply not been carried out in the impact assessment.
For these reasons the organisations demanded that no substance
showing high toxicity (HQ>50) towards bees, and in particular,
fipronil and imidacloprid, are registered for use in Europe unless
independent and validated tests show their innocuousness for bees,
their brood, and the functioning of the colony considered as a system.
The clothianidin and thiamethoxam cases must be reassessed on this
basis.
Farmers and environmental organisations call for a
ban of glufosinate ammonium in the European Union
Farmers and environmental organisations, including PAN Europe,
recently joined forces to campaign for a ban of this extremely hazardous
substance. The organisations addressed the Ministers and representatives
in the EU Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health
and the European Commission asking them not to miss the opportunity
to ban glufosinate ammonium ahead of the meeting of the regulatory
committee of 23rd and 24th November.
The results of the risk assessment for glufosinate amonium, conducted
by the rapporteur Member State Sweden, and peer reviewed by EFSA-
European Food Safety Authority showed serious concerns about the
risks for consumers, operators and the environment. The substance
is proposed to be classified as reprotoxic category 2, with laboratory
experiments causing premature birth, intra-uterine death and abortions
in rats. According to the risk assessment conclusions, under the
proposed uses in orchards, in genetically modified crops (maize,
rape-seed and sugar beet) and in potatoes, glufosinate-amonium:
- poses grave dangers to consumers, in particular children as
it exceeds the ARfD- Acute Reference Dose for toddlers in potatoes
(0.045mg/kg of body weight). Only slightly higher levels of residues
than the recommended for toddlers (8.5 mg/kg of body weight, less
than a 200 higher level) caused the death of dogs in laboratory
experiments due to myocardial necrosis;
- exceeds the AOEL-Acute Operator Exposure Level, even if gloves
and overalls are worn (which rarely happens in the real world conditions
of use and which public authorities have no way of monitoring or
enforcing in the field);
- poses high risk to mammals, non-target arthropods and non-target
plants.
Call for pesticides residues-free food at a time of
mounting contamination
The European Commission released in October the latest EU monitoring
results of pesticides residues in food showing alarming levels of
contamination. At the same week, 18 environmental, health and consumer
organisations from 14 different countries including PAN Europe called
upon the discount supermarket chain Lidl to substantially reduce
the pesticide contamination in fruit and vegetables sold by the
corporation in all its European branches, and to sell organic and
Fair Trade products.
The latest results of the coordinated EU monitoring of pesticides
residues in products of plant origin shows violations of legal pesticides
limits and a growing trend in contamination with multiple residues.
Even baby food does not escape this trend. While baby food should
be residues free, the latest monitoring results show that 2.7% of
all samples are contaminated with residues above the legal limit.
The results also show that levels of acute risk to children are
often exceeded. This means that children might be ingesting more
than the tolerated dose of a given pesticide over a period of time,
for example more than eight-fold the tolerated dose of methamidophos
in lettuce, an organophosphorus insecticide that attacks the nervous
system. They might also be ingesting more than eleven-fold and four-fold
the tolerated dose of oxydemeton-methyl in lettuce and apples respectively.
The latest substance, besides attacking the nervous system, is also
toxic to reproduction.
Lidl came off the worst among leading supermarket chains in a survey
of pesticide residues in fruit and vegetables carried out by Greenpeace
in Germany at the end of 2005. Early this year Lidl introduced measures
to reduce pesticide residues in fresh food sold in Germany, limiting
them in fresh produce to one-third of the current maximum limits
in Germany. In response to growing consumer concerns about pesticides
residues in food and the hazards posed by pesticides to consumers,
farmers and the environment, several supermarket chains all over
Europe are already implementing policies to reduce residues and
increase the range of organic and Fair Trade products on their shelves.
Discount supermarket chains, such as Lidl, should not miss this
opportunity to promote pesticide use reduction in the European countries
where they operate.
2. Published news and information
Approval of active ingredients in EU review
The EU Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCFCAH),
in its meeting of 23-24 November has approved the inclusion of six
existing active ingredients to Annex I: the organophosphate insecticides
phosmet (cholinesterase inhibitor, possible carcinogen, potential
groundwater contaminant) and dimethoate (acute toxic, cholinesterase
inhibitor, reproductive toxin, possible carcinogen, potential groundwater
contaminant), the herbicides glufosinate ammonium (reprotoxic) and
metribuzin (reprotoxic, potential groundwater contaminant, suspected
endocrine disruptor) and the fungicides propamocarb and dimethomorph.
Ban of active ingredients in EU review
In the same meeting, the SCFCAH excluded five substances from Annex
I: the herbicides diuron (carcinogen, groundwater contaminant, reproductive
toxin) and haloxyfop-R, the organophosphate insecticide cadusafos
(cholinesterase inhibitor, acute toxic) and the insecticides carbofuran
(cholinesterase inhibitor, acute toxic, potential groundwater contaminant)
and carbosulfan (cholinesterase inhibitor).
Integrated production of wheat more profitable than
conventional production
Experiments conducted for over four years by INRA, the French National
Institute for Agronomic Research, concluded that using adequate
varieties of wheat combined with rotations and sensible use of pesticides
and fertilisers results in better economic results for farmers compared
with conventional methods of wheat production. The 26 experiments
conducted in 2006 resulted in a higher average gross profit margin
of 56€ per hectare compared with conventional wheat production.
In one case, the margin could be as higher as 160€ per hectare.
In total, integrated wheat production was more profitable than conventional
in 92% of the cases.
The integrated production systems utilised 40% less seeds, no growth
regulators (against one growth regulator in the conventional production)
and one fungicide (against two fungicides in the conventional production).
The integrated systems also used less than 30 units of nitrogen
compared to the conventional. These results support the previous
INRA recommendation of moving towards integrated and organic production
systems following the experts report about pesticides and agriculture
released earlier this year.
Bayer sued over genetically modified rice
US rice farmers have filled a lawsuit against Bayer CropScience
over the release of an unauthorised strain of genetically modified
glufosinate-tolerant rice. Around 300 farmers from Arkansas, California,
Louisiana, Mississipi, Missouri and Texas are seeking an injunction
against Bayer to require the company to clean up the contamination.
The plaintiffs are also seeking compensatory and punitive damages
from the company. Since the rice strain contaminated the food chain,
the EU and Japan placed strict limits on US rice imports and prices
for US rice have dropped dramatically.
Denying any culpability, the Bayer response variously blames the
escape of its gene-altered variety of long-grain race, on "unavoidable
circumstances which could not have been prevented by anyone";
"an act of God"; and farmers' "own negligence, carelessness,
and/or comparative fault." In the mean while, the lawyer who
has filed five class-action suits for rice farmers claims how "unfortunate
that Bayer, rather than accept responsibility for its actions, is
instead trying to pin the blame on the American rice farmers, the
very people most detrimentally affected by Bayer's conduct here".
Positive correlation found between pesticide poisonings
and depression
A new case-control study evaluated the association between depression
and pesticide exposure among women. The study population included
29,074 female spouses of private pesticide applicators enrolled
in the US Agricultural Health Study between 1993 and 1997 carried
out in two US states and cases were women who had physician-diagnosed
depression requiring medication. Lifetime pesticide use was categorized
as never mixed/applied pesticides, low exposure, high exposure,
and a history of diagnosed pesticide poisoning. The conclusion indicates
that depression was significantly associated with a history of pesticide
poisoning.
Exposure to certain pesticides associated with increase
risk of Parkinson disease
Previous studies based on limited exposure assessment have suggested
that Parkinson's disease is associated with pesticide exposure.
The authors used data obtained from licensed private pesticide applicators
and spouses participating in the Agricultural Health Study to evaluate
the relation of self-reported Parkinson’s disease to pesticide
exposure. Cohort members, who were enrolled in 1993-1997, provided
detailed information on lifetime pesticide use. Cases were defined
as participants who reported physician-diagnosed Parkinson’s
at enrolment or follow-up and were compared with cohort members
who did not report. Incident Parkinson disease was associated with
cumulative days of pesticide use at enrolment, with personally applying
pesticides more than half the time, and with some specific pesticides.
This study suggests that exposure to certain pesticides may increase
Parkinson disease risk. Findings for specific chemicals may provide
fruitful leads for further investigation.
Prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms in past users
of sheep dip and other pesticides
From a postal survey of men born between 1933 and 1977 and resident
in three rural areas of England and Wales, the authors of the study
obtained data on lifetime history of work with pesticides; neurological
symptoms in the past month; current mental health; and tendency
to be troubled by non-neurological somatic symptoms (summarised
as a somatising tendency score). Data were available for 9,844 men,
including 1,913 who had worked with sheep dip, 832 with other insecticides
but not sheep dip, and 990 with other pesticides but never with
sheep dip or insecticides. Neurological symptoms were consistently
more common in past users of sheep dip than in men who had never
worked with pesticides, but their prevalence was also elevated in
men who had worked only with pesticides other than sheep dip or
insecticides. Among users of sheep dip, prevalence was higher in
men who had dipped most often, but not in those who had worked with
concentrate. The study concludes that neurological symptoms are
more common in men who have worked with sheep dip.
Further cuts in methyl bromide in Europe, while the
US maintains use exemptions
In the eighteenth Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol
on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (MOP-18), New Delhi,
30 October - 3 November 2006, the EU has agreed to cut its consumption
of the ozone-depleting pesticide methyl bromide to a maximum 690
tonnes in 2007. The EU has reduced its consumption cap from 2,777
tonnes in 2005. Seven EU countries can continue to use methyl bromide
in 2007, those with the highest caps being Spain (318 tonnes), Italy
(252 tonnes) and France (77 tonnes).
Methyl bromide use in developed countries has been banned since
2005, but with exemptions for approved "critical uses".
Parties to the protocol regularly review the exemptions with a view
to phasing them out. World-wide, industrialised countries will be
able to use up to about 9,000 tonnes of methyl bromide in 2007.
The single largest user by far is the USA, whose 2007 consumption
cap was agreed last year at
6,749 tonnes.
Several parties criticised US reluctance to cut consumption - or
production - more rapidly. In New Delhi America's 2008 cap on methyl
bromide use was set at 5,355 tonnes. Much lower caps were also agreed
for Australia, Japan and Canada.
ENDS Europe DAILY 2198, 06/11/06
Plant protection market growing in Eastern Europe
Over the past five years the crop protection market in Europe has
experienced the greatest growth of any region in the world, at 6.4%
a year and is now the largest regional market and accounts for over
29% of global crop protection sales, compared with just under 25%
for both North America and the Asia/Pacific region. But these statistics
don’t tell the full story because almost all of this growth
has been generated by the former communist satellite states of eastern
Europe. While in the ten countries that joined the EU in May 2004
the crop protection market grew by 36%, in the 15 existing west
European members it fell by 12%.
With these growth rates and a Common Agriculture Policy that gives
incentives to farmers to increase their consumption of external
inputs we may well be saying goodbye to a low input agriculture
in eastern Europe. With prospects of continuous growth, many crop
protection companies are enhancing their presence in these markets
by aggressive marketing campaigns and or by acquiring eastern European
companies.
3. News from PAN Europe partners
Rachel Carson Memorial Lecture 2006: Farmers and Fashion
PAN UK ‘s annual Rachel Carson Memorial Lecture is an opportunity
to celebrate her work and mark the annual Day of No Pesticide Use.
On the Day of No Pesticide Use, many civil society organisations
in the world address the problems of the misuse of pesticides and
call for sustainable alternatives. The remind us of the Bhophal
Disaster caused by the accidental release of 40 tonnes of methyl
isocyanate from a Union Carbide India pesticide plant located in
the heart of the Indian city of Bhopal on 3 December 1984. Thousands
of people died then and far more from related illnesses since. This
day is held in memory of victims of Bhopal and other sufferers from
pesticide exposure.
In this years’ lecture Dr. Camilla Toulmin talk “How
British consumers can support African cotton farmers” will
reveal the stark reality of life for men and women cotton farmers
in semi-arid West Africa. PAN UK’s Organic Cotton Project
works with farmers, designers, suppliers and retailers ranging from
well known High Street names to small cutting edge designers. More
than 10 million West Africans depend on cotton. How can we make
a difference?
West African cotton stands as an icon for much that is wrong with
our world. Hard-working farmers supply us with fibre at bargain
basement prices. Agricultural subsidies paid out to cotton farmers
in the US and Europe have brought falling margins and incomes, despite
their industry and competitive edge. More than 10 million West Africans
depend on the fine cotton that farmers coax from these semi-arid
lands, without irrigation and making best use of what little rain
falls. High levels of pesticide use sacrifice health and endanger
the fragile environment. But better and more sustainable alternatives
are available.
The memorial lecture will be held
on the evening of 5 December 2006 at the Royal Society for the Arts,
London.
New PAN Germany website to support the implementation
of the International Code of Conduct for the Distribution and Use
of Pesticides
Also on 3rd December 2006, the Day of No Pesticide Use, PAN Germany
launches a new website to promote the implementation of the International
Code of Conduct for the Distribution and Use of Pesticides.
Carina Weber, PAN Germany Program Director: "Pesticides harm
people and the environment and can have high economic costs. If
everyone would keep to the Code of Conduct, pesticides would cause
far less damage, especially in developing countries. Pesticide Action
Network (PAN) Germany, in cooperation with all PAN Regional Centres,
has developed a new website to support civil society organisations
and others in becoming active in the implementation of the Code."
The website is a one-stop location for getting to know what the
Code says about the responsibilities of governments, the pesticide
industry, the food industry, farmers and public interest groups
to prevent harm caused by pesticides. In addition you can easily
identify what the Code says about important pesticide-related issues
including pesticide use, pesticide advertising, pesticide labelling
and distribution and also about alternatives to toxic pesticides.
Support pages provide information on useful resources and suggestions
for action.
The Code of Conduct is a worldwide guidance document on pesticide
management for all public and private entities engaged in, or associated
with, the distribution and use of pesticides. It was adopted in
1985 by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United
Nations. In 2002 the FAO Council approved a revised and improved
version but so far the Code is still a paper tiger.
Second International Congress of the Paris Appeal
More than 500 scientists, doctors and representatives of health
and environment groups meeting at UNESCO, Paris called for strong
measures to control chemicals to help prevent cancers and other
chronic illnesses. Recent evidence that extremely low levels of
exposure to some chemical contaminants can cause disease by interfering
with the activity of genes were presented at the “Environment
and Sustainable Health: An International Assessment” conference.
The “Paris Appeal Memorandum” made unified scientific
recommendations for the prevention of cancers, birth defects, brain
development disorders and infertility.
The most urgent recommendations focused on the importance of strengthening
health protection via the European Union’s chemicals policy
reform, also known as REACH, but also other policies in particular
pesticides. François Veillerette, from the French advocacy
group Mouvement pour le Droit et le Respect des Générations
Futures (MDRGF), a member of PAN-Europe, would like to see this
approach governing the use of pesticides. In France, nearly 50%
of the vegetables produced in intensive farming contain pesticides.
In addition to a call for a strong substitution policy in REACH,
the Paris Appeal Memorandum is likely to seek an authorisation process
for pesticides, food additives and cosmetics similar to that used
for medicines, new education programmes and research priorities,
measures in waste management, and incentives to reduce pesticide
use via the Common Agriculture Policy.
Stop Paraquat: Citizens around the World condemn Syngenta
The campaign to stop the Syngenta pesticide paraquat is gathering
support around the world. The International Union of Agricultural
Workers' Associations (IUF), the 2005 Alternative Nobel Prize Laureate
Irene Fernandez of Malaysia, and a representative of the Swedish
Chemicals Inspectorate said at a press conference in Switzerland
that paraquat no longer has a place in agriculture because the highly
toxic product of the Swiss agrochemical corporation had claimed
too many victims already. Seeking to increase the pressure on Syngenta
the Berne Declaration (BD) has called a “public proceeding”.
In German-speaking countries the public proceeding in the paraquat
case started in early October. So far, some 16,000 people have condemned
Syngenta’s paraquat policies.”By marketing paraquat
primarily to countries where it is not used according to instructions,
Syngenta is acting with gross negligence and is complicit in ten
thousands of poisonings every year“ says Berne Declaration
expert François Meienberg.
Sue Longley, coordinator of the International Union of Agricultural
Workers' Associations (IUF) representing over 2.5 million people
in 125 countries, explains why her members overwhelmingly oppose
paraquat: “On banana plantations in Central America, palm
oil plantations in South East Asia, and in many African countries
workers suffer from the effects of paraquat on their health. The
product must be banned worldwide.”
Irene Fernandez, Right Livelihood Award Winner and Chairperson
of the Pesticide Action Network Asia & the Pacific, has been
fighting the use of paraquat in her home country for many years.
A ban proclaimed by the Malaysian government in 2002 was never implemented
– for various reasons, including an intervention by Syngenta.
„Syngenta must be held accountable, at last, for the health
damage caused by paraquat”, Fernandez insists.
Sweden outlawed paraquat back in 1983 and in 2004 filed an appeal
to the European Court against a decision of the European Commission
to re-approve paraquat for Europe. „Sweden has the opinion
that we have a global responsibility to send clear signals that
paraquat is not safe to use - neither in Europe nor in developing
countries“, said Kirsti Siirala, a representative of the Swedish
Chemicals Inspectorate, at the press conference.
For more information contact François
Meienberg, Campaign Director, Berne Declaration, Tel. +41 44 277
70 04
Field Guide to Non-chemical Pest Management on Corn
Production
PAN Germany has published the fourth field guide in a series on
non-chemical pest management in the tropics. These field guides
focus on just one crop and deal with all relevant information on
how to manage agricultural pests (e.g. insects, mites,
diseases) without using chemical pesticides. The basis for these
easy-to-read booklets is OISAT, the PAN Germany online information
service for non-chemical pest management in the tropics.
Criminal trader network selling illegal pesticides
in Germany
Six months of investigations by Greenpeace show that traders including
Germany's biggest agricultural traders, Raiffeisen, are selling
toxic and strictly prohibited pesticides, among them E605 (parathion),
in south Germany and Alsace. Eleven traders sold Greenpeace's investigators
a total of approximately 100 kilogrammes of illegal pesticides such
as bifenthrin, malathion and diethion, which have either never been
authorised in Germany or been banned for years. Four of the eleven
belong to the Raiffeisen group. A branch of Raiffeisen holdings
in Karlsruhe in fact sold ten litres of the highly hazardous toxin
E605 in Salmbach in the French part of Alsace
- for cash and without a receipt. Residues of such chemicals have
been detected time and again by Greenpeace and authorities monitoring
food of German origin.
The traders on this side of and beyond the German-French border
have German-speaking sales staff on hand and pitch their sales particularly
at German farmers willing to take up their offer. On request the
goods are delivered in Germany. Greenpeace presented extensive film
footage, sales receipts and some 100 kilogrammes of illegal pesticides
at a press conference in Berlin. The 38 packages of pesticide impounded
by Greenpeace contained eleven chemicals banned in Germany and three
banned throughout the EU. The environmental organisation is reporting
the matter to the authorities as a violation of the law on pesticides
with suspicion of tax evasion.
Greenpeace is calling for effective controls across borders. Traders
and farmers who sell or use illegal pesticide must be severely punished.
Their licences to trade or produce must be revoked and agricultural
subsidies cancelled. Greenpeace is also calling for more support
to alternatives to hazardous pesticides and for an agriculture free
of pesticides and GMOs.
This PAN Europe Newsletter was compiled by Sofia Parente
Contributions are welcome from PAN Europe network members, PURE
supporters and individuals.
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