The EU regulation on reducing the use of pesticides was rejected by the EP

The European Parliament, by a narrow majority, repealed the regulation on reducing the use of pesticides in the EU. The Commission’s proposal to reduce the use of pesticides was part of the Green Deal and the stated commitments under the “Farm to Fork” strategy.

The European Commission has failed in its attempt to drastically reduce the use of pesticides by 2030, because the European Parliament, by a narrow majority, repealed the regulation on reducing the use of pesticides in the EU. 299 Members of the European Parliament voted to reject the Commission’s proposal, while 207 supported the proposal and 121 abstained.

The proposal on the sustainable use of plant protection products includes measures to reduce the use of pesticides by 50% by 2030, mandatory rules for the application of integrated pest management, as well as measures to protect sensitive areas, such as public areas, nature reserves and water resources.

“Black day” for supporters of the regulation on reducing pesticide use

The International Biocontrol Manufacturers Association (IBMA) stated that it regrets the lost opportunity which, in its view, the introduction of biocontrol in agriculture and innovative nature-based solutions offers.

In response to the news of the vote, IBMA stated that until now the Sustainable Use Regulation (SUR) had been the only EU legislative act that ensured that biocontrol solutions would reach the market more quickly. “This threatens the livelihoods of farmers in the EU, the competitiveness of the European biocontrol sector, as well as food security and the health of people and the planet,” IBMA added.

“This was a disappointing day for biocontrol. The Sustainable Use Regulation contains an EU-wide definition of biological control and provides options for faster authorisation of alternatives that are essential for integrated pest management and sustainable agriculture,” said Jennifer Lewis, Executive Director of the International Biocontrol Manufacturers Association.

“The rejection of the proposal shows a shocking disregard for science, the public interest and the will of EU citizens. Most votes were driven by personal interests and disinformation on the part of the agrochemical industry,” said Christine De Schampheleire, representative of the pan-European network PAN Europe.

The environmental organisation BUND spoke of a loss “for people and nature, as well as for food security”. After the new approval for the use of the weed killer glyphosate was announced last week, the decision against the pesticide law was “another setback”, explained BUND’s chair Olaf Bandt.

The European Commission has extended the authorisation for the use of glyphosate for the next 10 years

Among other things, the regulation provided for the introduction of a complete ban on plant protection products in particularly sensitive areas such as urban parks, schools and Natura 2000 sites.

“Unrealistic” draft

The European farmers’ association Copa-Cogeca welcomed the decision: Parliament is finally recognising that the regulation on pesticides is “poorly adapted, unrealistic and underfunded”, explained the association’s president, Christiane Lambert.

The statement continues: “Farmers and agricultural cooperatives in the EU will continue to improve their environmental sustainability, but they need realistic targets and the necessary support, two elements that are completely lacking in the Commission’s text. Copa-Cogeca has consistently condemned the gap between political rhetoric and the lack of concrete solutions in this proposal.”