138 civil society, scientific, water, and farming organisations across Europe have called on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to fully enforce the EU Pesticide legislation.
The open letter follows the Commission’s call for evidence on the ‘Food and Feed Safety simplification omnibus,’ which received 6,440 responses, over 90% from EU citizens [1]. Signatories warn that the law is poorly implemented: dangerous pesticides remain on the market for years, loopholes delay action, and human health, water, and biodiversity suffer.
The coalition also criticises industry and Member State proposals under the “simplification omnibus,” which would widen exemptions for highly hazardous pesticides, extend transition periods for banned substances, and weaken time-limited approvals [2].
“The Commission should be closing loopholes for toxic pesticides, not opening new ones,” said Salomé Roynel, Policy Officer at PAN Europe. “Pesticides must be rigorously assessed before authorisation. When there is proof of harm, they should be banned without delay.”
Scientific evidence shows widespread exposure to mixtures of pesticide residues in air, water, soil, food, houses, animals and humans. Farmers and rural communities are the first to be affected, facing increased risks of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, while ecosystem contamination contributes to the collapse of insects essential for food production, and biodiversity as a whole.
PAN Europe’s contribution to the consultation shows that implementation of Regulation 1107/2009 on the placement of pesticides in the market and Directive 2009/128/EC on the sustainable use of pesticides, both lag far behind the laws’ ambitions [3].
The signatories represent a broad group, including scientists, health groups, environmental NGOs, organic and agroecological farming organisations, water sector representatives and beekeeping federations.
“Citizens have consistently spoken: they want to phase out harmful pesticides and a healthy future, for nature, people and farming,” said Kristine De Schamphelaere, Policy Officer at PAN Europe. “They expect the Commission to listen to science and act in the public interest.”
The letter, and the broad response to the consultation, follow repeated demands [4] for ambitious action on pesticides over the last years, including through consultations, barometers, opinion polls, and two successful European citizen initiatives.
Letter and list of signatories
Read our Op-Ed: Will pesticides be let off hook by EU 'omnibus' deregulation?
Contacts:
- Salomé Roynel, Policy Officer, salome [at] pan-europe.info, +32 451 02 31 33,
- Kristine De Schamphelaere, Policy Officer Agriculture, kristine [at] pan-europe.info, +32 473 96 11 20
Notes to editors:
[1] Food and feed safety – simplification omnibus; Commission faces backlash from citizens over proposed pesticide rule simplification
[2] Urgent need for action in the area of plant protection products - Call for a swift and effective approach; Feedback from: CropLife Europe
[3] Feedback from: Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Europe
[4] Factsheet: Citizens’ Demands for Pesticide Reduction in Europe
