The European Commission (EC) is proposing “unlimited approvals for pesticides,” the environmental organization Quercus stated in a communication, describing the Commission’s proposal as a “deregulation” move and urging public mobilization.
Quercus expressed deep concern over the proposed amendment to the Omnibus Regulation on Food and Feed, which is set for an official vote on December 16 by the EC, according to the organization’s statement.
The Omnibus Regulation comprises a series of legislative proposals by the European Union (EU) aimed at simplifying regulation, particularly in the area of sustainability.
In the statement, the Portuguese association claimed that the EC proposal, led by the Directorate-General for Health, under the guise of simplification, “actually represents an unprecedented assault on the pillars” of pesticide market regulations designed to protect citizens and the environment from pesticide risks.
The association highlighted three significant changes the EC intends to approve, which it deems “extremely serious.” One of these is the approval of pesticides for an unlimited duration, removing mandatory periodic reviews essential for reevaluating substances with the latest scientific insights.
“Without this incentive, dangerous pesticides could remain on the market indefinitely, disregarding new data on their toxicity,” Quercus explained.
Another significant change is the elimination of the requirement for countries to consider the most recent independent scientific evidence when authorizing pesticide products.
The third serious alteration, according to Quercus, is the extension of grace periods for banned pesticides, meaning that dangerous and prohibited pesticides could be sold for an additional three years.
“This proposal represents a serious regression, threatening science and endangering the Precautionary Principle and the goal of protecting public health and biodiversity,” stated Alexandra Azevedo, president of Quercus, in the release.
Angeliki Lyssimachou, Director of Science and Policy at the European organization “Pesticide Action Network Europe” (PAN Europe), also cited in the statement, noted that highly toxic pesticides were only banned because independent science, not industry studies, revealed their excessive toxicity.
“It is unacceptable that, in response to demands for reduced pesticide use from European citizens,” the EC is preparing a “legislative regression that prioritizes industry interests over public health, biodiversity, and water and soil quality,” accused Quercus.
The association, a member of PAN Europe, demands that the EC reject the changes and urges citizens to join protests by sending an email to the Portuguese commissioner, Maria Luís Albuquerque, urging her to reject the proposal, or through the PAN Europe website.
PAN Europe is a network of European organizations seeking to reduce the use of dangerous pesticides and replace them with environmentally friendly alternatives. It includes nearly fifty EU organizations focused on consumer, public health, and environmental issues.
