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USA: TOXIC PESTICIDE RESIDUE RISK FROM FLEA AND TICK COLLARS

Some flea and tick collars leave highly toxic pesticide residues that can remain on an animal’s fur weeks after the collar has been applied according to the Natural Resources Defence Council in America.

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USA: PESTICIDES LINKED TO PARKINSON’S DISEASE IN HUMANS

People who have lived close to fields where the pesticides maneb or paraquat where sprayed are, on average, 75% more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease according to a study published in the latest issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology.

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ARGENTINA: GLYPHOSATE MAY CAUSE BIRTH DEFECTS

An Argentinian study on amphibian embryos has shown that exposure to glyphosate results in brain, intestinal and heart defects. Scientists say the results are comparable to what would happen in a human embryo and are cause for concern in Argentina where glyphosate is used on genetically modified soy, Argentina’s main crop.

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Welcome to PAN Europe

Towards Sustainable Pesticide Use Reduction Across Europe: from Words to Action

PAN Europe’s 2009 Annual Conference takes place in Sofia, Bulgaria on 4 & 5 September. For more information, or to request a pre-registration form, please contact pan-agm@friends-of-earth.org

PAN Europe is a network of grass roots organisations working to replace the use of hazardous pesticides with ecologically sound alternatives.

Our network brings together consumer, public health, and environmental organisations, trades unions, women's groups, and farmer associations from across Europe.

Press Release - 13 January 2009

Parliament clears final hurdle towards EU pesticide blacklist

In one of the final legislative acts of the 2004-2009 Parliamentary session, soon to adjourn prior to elections in June, the European Parliament today confirmed its support for a new deal on EU pesticides legislation.

Voting in Strasbourg, Members of the European Parliament endorsed a raft of measures including the creation of an EU pesticide blacklist designed to replace the most hazardous pesticides from use in EU food production. The development means Parliament has now cleared the final hurdle in establishing future protocols for the authorisation and use of pesticides.

“After nearly three years of discussions the EU is just a heartbeat from eliminating dietary and occupational exposure to the worst carcinogenic and mutagenic pesticides”, said Elliott Cannell, a spokesperson for Pesticide Action Network. “Today’s vote is fantastic for consumers concerned that 50% of food items sold in the EU currently contain pesticides”.

“We are glad that MEPs have seized this unique opportunity to phase out pesticides that can play a role in the cancer pandemic and growing fertility problems”, said Monica Guarinoni, Deputy Director at the Health & Environment Alliance. “The pesticides policy reform approved today is a definite step forward for public health. We hope it will lead to creating healthier, pesticide-free public spaces at national level, especially in parks and schools where children spend most of their time”.

- Read full press release