Suggested text for a directive on pesticides use reduction in Europe - presented by PAN Europe and the EEB, 29/05/02

The European Environmental Bureau (EEB) and Pesticides Action Network Europe (PAN Europe) have released a suggested Directive on Pesticides Use Reduction in Europe (PURE). The text aims to speed up the European Commission's development of effective legislation on the sustainable use of pesticides.

The objective of the suggested Directive is to contribute to a high level of protection of human health and the environment through reduction of dependency on and, wherever possible, elimination of the use of pesticides (Plant Protection Products).

In order to comply with this objective, the main target of the suggested legislation is to attain a 50% reduction in the frequency of applications of pesticides at national level within 10 years, thereby reducing the impact of pesticides on human health and the environment.

The proposed reduction of 50% can be achieved by promotion of alternative methods including organic farming, and by mandatory application of integrated pest management (IPM) for non agricultural situations and integrated crop management (ICM) on all cultivated land not yet in organic farming..

The proposal for a Directive is put forward as a discussion tool and comments from all stakeholders are welcome.