The Council of EU Ministers has adopted the Regulation that will replace Directive 91/414 governing the placement of pesticides on the market.

 
“The crop science industry fully supports the EU’s efforts to achieve high standards of environmental and human safety, while preserving, if not increasing agricultural productivity,” said Friedhelm Schmider, Director General of the European Crop Protection Association.  “The new legislation has sought to incorporate the latest scientific advancements, removing older compounds from the market and expediting the incorporation of the most up-to-date crop protection products.”

 
He emphasized that advanced crop management is the key to European agriculture’s success in providing a reliable supply of safe, affordable food. It reduces crop losses, which translates into the best use of valuable resources including water, soil, agricultural land and biodiversity.

 
“Advanced crop science also provides a key margin of safety in a high-volume market, but this requires a premium to be placed not only upon regulation, but on farmer/food chain education and compliance,” cautioned Schmider.  “The recent tragic organic contamination incident in Northern Germany has served to underline the serious nature of the food safety challenge for both government and producers.”

 
“This is why objective, evidence-based science should remain the backbone of EU regulation,” said Schmider.  “We encourage legislators to reconsider the narrow hazard-based approach in this regard.  Only by adhering to fully-informed, 360-degree risk assessment can we fulfil the combined imperatives of agricultural productivity, environmental protection and enhanced food safety.  At the end of the day, European agriculture must meet Europe’s food demand, reduce where possible EU dependence on imports, and halt the expansion of arable land into biodiversity-rich habitats.  Over the next five years we will see whether European farmers still have enough tools available to run modern integrated pest management programs and overcome pest resistance.

 
Schmider concluded, “Europe faces many challenges ahead in these unsettled financial times.  We confirm that our industry remains a willing partner in developing the sustainable productive agriculture that will provide food security for tomorrow’s generation.”

 
Information:
Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market and repealing Council Directives 79/117/EEC and 91/414/EEC comes into force on the 14th of June 2011

 
The European Crop Protection Association (ECPA) represents the crop protection industry interests at European level. Its members include all major companies and national associations across Europe. For more information: www.ecpa.eu.

For more information:
Phil Newton
Senior Manager of Communications
European Crop Protection Association, aisbl
Tel: +32 2 663 1552
Switchboard : +32 (0)2 663 1550