Press releases
Brussels, 7th June 2021 - Ignoring cancer risks, a family of unstable pesticides was given flawed approval by a controversial EU food safety agency, according to our new report ‘EFSA, Science or Ideology?’. The substances could help explain rising rates of breast and prostate cancer.
Brussels, 1st June 2021 - The webinar "Pesticide-Free Towns for a Pesticide-Free Planet", organized by Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Europe will have a multi-perspective approach and will be held today June 1st at 5 pm.
Brussels, 20 May 2021 - While European decision makers all claim we need to do more to protect bees and biodiversity, the latest developments in bees’ protection against pesticides shows us that decision-makers still give priority to agribusiness over protection of the environment. The Bee Guidance Document, Sulfoxaflor and Cypermethrin are some of the ongoing discussions at EU-level that tell us that Member States keep pushing for maintaining bee-toxic pesticides in our environment.
Brussels, 6 May 2021 - Today, the European Court of Justice has confirmed that the European Commission was entitled to ban the use of neonics on bee-attractive crops in 2013, in its jugement [1] on the appeal case opposing Bayer to the European Commission. The Luxembourg-based institution backed the use of the precautionary principle and that, even in case of uncertainty, the European Commission was entitled to make such restrictions.
Within the Italian province of South Tyrol, 32 different agricultural pesticides were detected on children's playgrounds. An international team of scientists strongly advises to take action for public health.
Brussels, 18 January 2021: Reacting to the European Commission’s reply [1] to PAN Europe’s demand to ban the export of pesticides not approved in the European Union and the import of agricultural products made with those same pesticides, Angeliki Lysimachou - Science Policy officer at PAN Europe - said today: “PAN Europe welcomes the Commission’s commitment to put an end to the disgraceful practice of double standards and we look forward to seeing the EU taking leadership on the elimination of hazardous pesticides globally.”
New scientific information shows that Sulfoxaflor and Flupyradifurone, two new generation neonicotinoid insecticides approved in the EU in 2015, are more toxic to bees than initially thought. The Standing Committee on phytopharmaceuticals meeting of 3-4 December will discuss the future of these substances. While the Commission proposes taking action, some Member States are pushing to maintain these bee-toxic pesticides on the market, repeating a familiar scenario where Member States hamper the protection of pollinators...
Today, the EU Ombudsman released its final decision, criticising the European Commission´s methods in approving active substances used in pesticides. The EU watchdog also recalled the “commitment by the Von der Leyen Commission to take action to reduce by 50% the overall use of – and risk from – chemical pesticides by 2030” [1].
Brussels, 3 December, 2020: European Council documents acquired by Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Europe and its members show that Austria takes an open and direct position in the Council of Agriculture Ministers against the EU Commission’s strategy aimed at reducing pesticide use by 50 percent by 2030. Indirect criticism of the Commission's 50% reduction target was expressed by Lithuania and Ireland. The other Member States have so far taken no position or expressed neutrality on this issue.
Brussels, 17 November 2020: Ahead of a gathering of experts from EU member states to discuss the implementation of the “Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive” (SUD) [1], PAN Europe warns that national plans towards reduction in pesticide use are not only insufficient, but could derail the Farm to Fork Strategy entirely.
