Today the European Parliament adopted by a large majority the compromise on the EU plant protection package. Substances of particular concern will be banned from plant protection products in future. Federal Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel welcomed the approval: “The ban of substances of particular concern from plant protection products is a huge step forward. The agricultural industry is now called upon to provide farmers with alternatives that are more environmentally sound. In my view, the decision taken in Brussels will stimulate innovations and offers great opportunities, especially for the German chemical industry”, commented Minister Gabriel. He added that the new EU plant protection legislation could rightly be viewed as groundbreaking in environmental protection. Restrictions on the use of chemical plant protection products will be introduced to offer additional protection. Precise reduction targets and measures will have to be defined at the national level.
The new authorisation procedure for plant protection products adopted by the Parliament represents a system change in favour of the environment. Substances of particular concern will be banned from plant protection products in future – regardless of the quantities that actually reach the environment or consumers. This applies, for example, to toxic substances which accumulate in the environment and to substances belonging to the group of persistent organic pollutants, the so-called POPs, which are widely rejected internationally. Substances with proven carcinogenic, mutagenic or adverse reproductive effects or those interfering with the endocrine system will also be excluded from the authorisation procedure for active substances in pesticides throughout the EU.
A thorough risk assessment remains in place for substances without such hazardous properties.
Moreover, the European Parliament approved EU-wide provisions which for the first time cover not only the authorisation of plant protection products, but also their use. Under the new scheme, a comparative assessment of plant protection products will be carried out and preference will be given to processes that minimise impacts on humans and the environment. To achieve this, integrated pest management will become binding from 2014. Spraying from planes or helicopters will be prohibited apart from some clearly defined exceptions. Member States will be obliged to lay down specific reduction targets, measures and schedules in a national action plan to reduce risks and impacts of pesticide use on human health and on the environment.
The provisions on the new authorisation procedure are part of an EU Regulation that is immediately applicable in Germany. As regards pesticide use, transposition of the EU Framework Directive into national law will play a decisive role. The Regulation and the Framework Directive together form the so-called EU plant protection package.
The compromise is subject to formal approval by the Council.