Specific targets for cutting pesticide use on farms have
been dropped by EU farm ministers, who reached a political
agreement this week on a new draft Directive on the sustainable use
of pesticides.
Last October, the European parliament sought to make it
compulsory for member states to set their own reduction targets on
spray use. Some Euro-MPs had suggested that cuts of 25% over five
years and 50% over 10 years would be appropriate.
But the agreement reached by farm ministers this week drops all
references to these targets.
Similarly, a call by the European parliament for there to be
"substantial" no-spray zones around areas of housing has also been
abandoned.
Instead, the draft Directive limits itself to establishing
National Action Plans with rules on equipment inspections and
chemical storage. A ban on aerial spraying is also included, except
in special circumstances.
The draft Directive now returns to the European parliament for a
second reading in the spring. It remains to be seen how hard it
fights to reinstate reduction targets and no-spray zones.
