Press releases

Following months of political negotiations, the Parliamentary Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) today voted on proposals for a Regulation and Framework Directive on the use and authorisation of pesticides.

Fruits, vegetables and cereals sold throughout the European Union contain record levels of pesticides - according to an official report to be published later this month.

From 1 September 2008, the maximum legal limits on the level of pesticides allowed in food items sold in the EU will dramatically increase.

The UK government is today participating in a media initiative aimed at attacking proposed European legislation that would remove the most hazardous pesticides from food produce grown in the EU.

Agriculture Ministers from across Europe today approved the creation of an EU-wide pesticides blacklist.

Following weeks of heavy handed lobbying from the pesticides industry, and amid a lack of consensus among Member States, the European Commission this afternoon came out fighting for better EU pesticides legislation.

Pesticide Action Network Europe, together with NGOs from Austria, France and Germany, has uncovered substantial evidence that wines on sale in the European Union may contain residues of a large number of pesticides.

Yesterday's vote in the European Parliament on key legislation to determine which pesticides are sold in the EU and how they are used, shows that MEPs are struggling with heavy pressure from industry, believe health and environmental groups.

Brussels 10th October 2007 - Today in the European Parliament, Brussels, the Pesticide Action Network Europe (PAN-E) and Friends of the Earth Netherlands (Milieudefensie) will present the shocking findings of an analysis into pesticides found on fruit purchased within the Parliament building.

The European Parliament's Environment Committee this morning voted in favour of a more precautionary approach for the system that regulates the sale of pesticides in the EU.