Background
The leaked draft report on the Food and Feed Safety Omnibus, published by Contexte on 22 June, reveals that MEPs Dorfmann (EPP) and Picaro (ECR) propose a sweeping deregulation of EU pesticide rules that goes significantly beyond the European Commission's proposal. Their proposal ignores mounting scientific evidence on harms caused by pesticide exposure, including to children’s development, and the urgent need to strengthen, not weaken, existing safeguards. The measures closely mirror the demands recently put forward by the pesticide industry. [1]
The draft would grant unlimited EU approvals for nearly all pesticide active substances, effectively abandoning around 200 ongoing renewal assessments, while also introducing unlimited national authorisations for products containing those substances. In addition, it would make it easier and faster to approve highly harmful substances - such those that cause infertility, hormone disruption and other serious effects - through derogations based on socio-economic considerations. The proposed EPP-ECR text also extends grace periods for any substances following their ban, and weakens Member States' ability to regulate products on their national territory.
PAN Europe reaction
"The proposal put forward by MEPs Dorfmann and Picaro is the most far-reaching weakening of EU pesticide safety standards in recent years, going beyond the Commission in weakening rules that are essential to protecting both consumers and farmers.
At a time when scientific evidence continues to raise concerns about links between pesticide exposure and cancers, developmental disorders and other chronic diseases, weakening pesticide legislation is both irresponsible and unacceptable. Of particular concern is the insufficient consideration given to children’s health, given their higher vulnerability to pesticide exposure.
Any policymaker who chooses to support such measures must explain to parents across Europe why the demands of the pesticide industry should take precedence over the health and safety of their children," reacted Salomé Roynel, Policy Officer at PAN Europe.
Link to leaked report: Contexte (newspaper article) or Attached (PDF document).
Read more: For Health, Bees and Farmers | PAN Europe
Contact:
- Salomé Roynel, Policy Officer, salome [at] pan-europe.info +32 451 023133
- Angeliki Lysimachou, angeliki [at] pan-europe.info +32 496 392930
Notes to editors:
[1] Feedback from: CropLife Europe; Feedback from: Bayer AG; Feedback from: BASF Agricultural Solutions
