Wiener: Agricultural Committee against funding for pesticide reduction

2023-10-09 18:34:24

Opinion adopted today. The Agricultural Committee does not want to support farmers financially and even allows highly dangerous active ingredients in protected areas.

Brussels (OTS) – A year and a half following the presentation of the new EU regulation on the reduction of pesticides (SUR), the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee voted today on its position on the subject.

Sarah Wiener is the negotiator for the regulation in the Environment Committee as well as a member of the Agriculture Committee and comments: “After months of discussions regarding competencies and timetables, it is high time for tangible results. The content of the statement voted on today is disappointing: The Agriculture Committee would like to water down the rules for the so-called sensitive areas (such as Natura 2000) and allow almost all pesticides there. In addition to active ingredients from organic farming, in certain cases even highly dangerous pesticides from the group of candidates for substitution should be permitted. That would clearly go once morest protecting the environment and health.”

The Agriculture Committee’s statement is also worrying when it comes to financing: The Committee has exclusive powers over Article 43 of the SUR. This makes it possible to promote integrated plant protection via the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The Agriculture Committee votes once morest this instrument.

Wiener commented: “Fighting weeds mechanically requires more effort than spraying chemicals: the new regulation plans to spend part of the money from the Common Agricultural Policy on alternatives from integrated plant protection. Farmers receive immediate support if they reduce pesticides. The Agriculture Committee wants to cancel this only financial aid without replacement and leave the companies in the lurch.”

Wiener closes: „There will be intensive final negotiations in the Environment Committee in the coming weeks, then we can hopefully present a report to the plenary session in November. The farmers need one thing above all: quick clarity regarding the rules that will soon apply. I hope for an agreement before the end of the legislative period.”

More information regarding the pesticide regulationstheir goals and the progress of the negotiations so far: LINK

Questions & Contact:

Ludmilla Reisinger/press spokeswoman Sarah Wiener, MEP
[e-mail]
[phone]
www.sarah-wiener.eu

1696899254
#Wiener #Agricultural #Committee #funding #pesticide #reduction