Call for a commensurate reply to the rising presence of the most hazardous pesticides in the EU

Dear Mr Hertoge,

Thank you for your letter to President von der Leyen of 8 June 2022. I take note of the concerns expressed in your letter in relation to the ambitions and timetable for the adoption of the legislation replacing the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive.

The Nature Restoration Law and the Sustainable Use of Pesticides proposal scheduled for adoption on 22 June 2022 are key to protecting health, the environment and ecosystem services. In this context it is important to recall the 2020 opinion of the EU Group of Chief Scientific Advisers, “Towards a sustainable food system”, which stated that “the EU food system has achieved high levels of food security, food safety and a wide consumer choice, but is currently not sustainable with respect to the environmental, economic and social aspects. Continuing with ‘business as usual’ will significantly endanger natural resources, our health, the climate, and the economy”. 

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