Press releases
The European Commission recently announced it was initiating an infringement procedure against Romania for granting derogations to bee-toxic neonicotinoid insecticides [1]. This is the first time ever, the European Commission launches an infringement procedure against a Member State on the abuse of the 'emergency authorisation' system. The procedure is based on a ruling from the EU Court won by PAN Europe in 2023, where the EU’s highest court said that no derogations can be given to a pesticide that is banned for health or environmental reasons.
Three NGOs, PAN Europe, IFOAM Organics Europe and Global 2000, lodged a formal complaint before the European Ombudsman concerning the European Commission’s reliance on the Harmonised Risk Indicator 1 (HRI1) to measure use and risk of pesticides.
A new report by PAN Europe reveals how major chemical companies have systematically cast doubt on the toxicity of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), delaying urgently needed protective measures against one of Europe’s most widespread and persistent pollutants.
‘Return to Sender’ is a new campaign launched today by the European coalition ‘End Toxic Pesticide Trade Coalition’ (1) to hold the European Commission to account for letting the exports of banned, toxic pesticides from the EU to the global South explode. This indefensible practice is impacting people’s health all over the world and violating human rights.
The EU institutions have reached a long-awaited deal on updated rules for pollution of EU surface and groundwater, but Member States have managed to delay and weaken obligations.
Yesterday, nearly three years after the European Commission proposed an update to the lists of pollutants that EU Member States must monitor and control in surface and groundwater, the EU institutions reached an agreement.
In a landmark decision, the Paris Court of Appeal has held the French State accountable for ecological harm resulting from outdated and inadequate pesticide environmental risk assessments. The ruling obliges the French State to update its pesticide evaluation protocols and review all pesticide authorisations within 24 months. This decision is partly based on a ruling by the EU Court of Justice in a case filed by PAN Europe, which concluded that EU States must base pesticide approvals on the most up-to-date scientific evidence. [1]
Het CTGB negeert arresten van het Europees Hof van Justitie, uitspraken van het College van Beroep voor het bedrijfsleven en recente inzichten van de Europese voedselautoriteit EFSA. De instantie besloot deze zomer tot verlengen van de toelating van de bestrijdingsmiddelen Dagonis en Pitcher, ondanks wetenschappelijk aangetoonde gevaren voor de gezondheid van gebruikers, omwonenden en consumenten en voor het milieu. Het Pesticide Action Network heeft beroep ingesteld tegen de besluiten.
PAN Europe is calling out the European Commission for its inaction on PFAS pesticides. These substances break down into trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), a highly persistent, mobile and toxic degradation product. TFA has been detected above legal limits in groundwater across Europe. PAN Europe argues that the Commission is failing to meet its legal obligations under EU law to protect groundwater and public health.
The EU has banned the PFAS pesticide flufenacet because it’s harmful to human health and contaminates groundwater with its breakdown PFAS product, trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), a smaller but still toxic “forever chemical”. Yet, this dangerous pesticide will continue to be used on Europe’s crop fields for up to 18 months, according to the official EU decision. This is the maximum ‘grace’ period possible according to the EU Pesticides law, provided only for pesticides that are banned for reasons other than health or environmental protection.
Where the world is on fire with various wars, the EU is continuing an invisible chemical war, exporting tonnes of banned, toxic pesticides to all corners of the world. Today, the “End Toxic Pesticide Trade Coalition” (1) demands to EC President Ursula von der Leyen, alongside more than 600 organisations, to keep its 2020 promise and put an end to the EU production, export and residue imports of those banned pesticides.
