Brussels, 12 September 2007
EU Environment Committee Vote on Pesticides rules
In a vote parallel to the June-vote on the the proposed Thematic Strategy and Framework Directive on the Sustainable Use of Pesticides, The Environment Committee of the European Parliament today voted to strengthen the Commission proposal for a regulation on the placing of Plant Protection Products on the market.
In line with the earlier vote on pesticides, Members of the European Parliament strengthened the proposal, by reinforcing the provisions on substitution of the most hazardous chemical substances and by establishing a strong link with the Water Framework Directive. Accordingly, unacceptable water pollution will now trigger review and possible withdrawal of pesticide authorisation. Other important changes included a changing of the legal basis (Article 152 (4)(b) and 175(1) to ensure protection of human health and the environment, and the rejection of the division of Europe into three zones. As with the Directive on the Sustainable Use of Pesticides, the term by Plant Protection Products is replaced by the more commonly understood concept Pesticides.
Both the Regulation on the placing of Plant Protection Products on the market and the Directive on the Sustainable Use of Pesticides will be voted upon at the European Parliaments plenary session on 22-25 October. If the improvements are confirmed by the Chamber, the legislative acts will contribute to greater protection of human health and the environment.
22 August 2007
Paraquat banned in the EU
On 11 July 2007 the Court of first Instance of the European Communities decided to annul the directive authorizing paraquat as an active plant protection substance.
This active substance has been banned in 13 countries, including Sweden,
Denmark, Austria and Finland. However, in 2003 the European Commission decided
to authorize paraquat as an active substance in plant protection products.
Sweden, supported by Denmark, Austria, and Finland, brought the European
Union commission to court and today the decision was taken in favor of Sweden.
The court decision says “The Commission’s handling of the file
does not satisfy the applicable procedural requirements and the directive
fails to satisfy the requirement of protection of human and animal health”
- This is an important decision, since it states that directive 2003/11
fails to satisfy the requirement of protection of human health, says Anne-Sofie
Andersson, Director of the International Chemical Secretariat (ChemSec).
Paraquat is highly toxic to animals and has serious and irreversible delayed effects if absorbed. There are no specific antidotes. Those who suffer large exposures are unlikely to survive. Being less acutely toxic at spray strength, the greatest risk to workers of fatal and serious accidents is during mixing and loading. Paraquat one of the most widely used active substances in pesticides and more than 120 countries are using pesticides containing paraquat. Paraquat is used to control broad-leaved weeds and grasses and is therefore widely used for weed control in fruit orchards and plantation crops, including coffee, cocoa, coconut, oil palms, rubber, bananas, vines, olives and tea, ornamental trees and shrubs and in forestry.
An appeal may be brought before the Court of Justice of the European Communities against a decision of the Court of First Instance, within two months of its notification.
Follow-up stories:
In response to the decision, PAN Europe launched 'Paraquat Watch' – an on-line information resource housed within the PAN Europe website. This facility has been put together following the annulment of the EU-wide authorisation for paraquat, and aims to provide up to the minute information regarding the regulatory status of paraquat in Europe.
In view of the legal paraquat decision on EU level the German Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) on 13th July 2007 decided to suspend the registration of paraquat containing pesticide products for the time being. According to this decision it is currently not allowed to sell the product Gramoxone Extra. Remainders are not allowed to be used.
http://www.pan-germany.org
http://www.pestizidreduktion.de
In addition, authorities in France and the Netherlands: have withdrawn the authorisation (with immediate effect!) Read more (French)