Press releases

Today, the Advocate General of the Court of Justice of the EU concluded that the European Commission acted unlawfully by re-approving the pesticide cypermethrin with major toxicity data gaps in the reapproval dossier, by relying on non-validated and unrealistic risk mitigation measures, and by disregarding toxicity to insects. The Advocate General agrees with many arguments put forward by PAN Europe in this appeal case against the EU re-approval of cypermethrin, a highly toxic insecticide. [1]

Today’s ‘Water Resilience Strategy’ by the European Commission makes bold claims but offers little ambition in protecting water resources from one of its most persistent threats: pesticide pollution. Rather than tackling pollution at its source, it leans heavily on downstream "clean-up" technologies that still need to be developed. Even more concerning is the lack of support for existing legislation aiming to transition Europe towards a farming model that does not rely on pesticides.

PAN Europe and Global 2000 call for an immediate ban of PFAS pesticides 

PAN Europe welcomes ECHA’s publication of the German proposal to classify TFA as toxic to reproduction. The substance is a breakdown product of PFAS pesticides. We urge the EU to take immediate action by banning PFAS pesticides, a key source of pollution in water and food with this forever chemical.

EU Member States approved the renewal of 8-hydroxyquinoline (quinolin-8-ol), a pesticide classified as toxic for reproduction. The substance, known to affect healthy pregnancies and be toxic to children's development, was renewed for seven years as a candidate for substitution by using an exceptional ‘negligible exposure’ clause. Instead of banning it, Member States approved its use in permanent greenhouses for ‘drip irrigation’. PAN Europe strongly condemns this decision. 

Acetamiprid is a neonicotinoid insecticide that is massively used in the EU as an agricultural pesticide and as a biocide. New scientific evidence shows that it presents a risk of developmental neurotoxicity, thus potentially harming fetuses. Générations Futures and PAN Europe sent a letter to DG Sante, presenting 16 new scientific publications pointing to problems, including neurotoxicity to humans. Publications also confirm the risk posed by this insecticide to wild pollinators and birds.

The leaked draft version of the EU Water Resilience Strategy reveals a shockingly low level of ambition behind the Commission’s bold promises to promote low-input agriculture and tackle PFAS and pesticide pollution at their source. In fact, it contradicts the EU’s own legal obligations and years of work towards achieving sustainable agriculture. 

New figures released by the European Food Safety Authority [1] reveal that 42% of European food sold across Europe contains pesticide residues, with fruits such as pears and oranges being at the top of the list. Alarmingly, over half of these samples contained multiple pesticide residues, revealing that Europeans are exposed to pesticide cocktails. On average, the number of food samples contaminated has hardly changed since 2000, but the number with a pesticide cocktail has doubled. 

In an urgent call for action, Members of the European Pesticide Action Network (PAN Europe) projected a clear message onto the European Commission headquarters in Brussels demanding immediate political action to ban PFAS pesticides. This week (14-15 May) is the third time that EU Member states are meeting behind closed doors to discuss a ban on flutolanil, one of the PFAS pesticides that release trifluoroacetic acid (TFA). This reprotoxic "forever chemical" contaminates drinking water resources and plant-based food across the EU.

Today, the European Parliament adopted its own-initiative report on the upcoming EU Water Resilience Strategy, signalling the need for stronger efforts to tackle water pollution, including that from pesticides. While the report falls short on the ambition needed to confront Europe’s water crisis, PAN Europe welcomes key provisions calling for increased pesticide monitoring, better enforcement of the Pesticide Regulation, and financial aid for farmers transitioning to low-input and organic farming practices.