The European Parliament rejects the SUR proposal for the reduction of pesticides
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The troubled proposal for a regulation for the reduction of synthetic pesticides in agriculture (SUR) has been rejected by the European Parliament. (1) A few months before the European elections (June 2024), a pillar of the European Green Deal effectively expires, as well as the hope of safeguarding the health and environment of European citizens from the pervasive spread of agrotoxics.
Fewer pesticides, more biodiversity and health
The SUR proposal (Sustainable Use and Reduction of Pesticides) of the European Commission predicted
– halving the use of synthetic pesticides in the EU by 2030, compared to the three-year period 2015-17,
– the ban on the use of agrotoxics in sensitive areas,
– the promotion of environmentally friendly practices for weed control.
Presented in the summer of 2022, the proposal had a troubled process in the Agriculture Council and in the European Parliament and procedural delays. (2,3)
The responsibility of the lobbies
Hindered in every way, the SUR proposal was finally rejected on 22 November 2023 by the European Parliament in plenary session with the vote in favor of 299 MEPs, 207 against and 121 abstentions.
They rejoice in Copa-Cogeca (the European representation of supporters of agrotoxics, such as the Italian Coldiretti) and the MEPs who are more sensitive to the requests of the lobbies than to the rights of the population they represent.
Polluted European lands
The massive use of poisonous substances as a mere shortcut in agriculture it has already caused serious damage.
61,7% of the European agricultural area, equal to 2,3 million km2, is in conditions of high risk of pesticide pollution', according to the largest study ever conducted on a global level on this topic (Tang et al., 2021). And pesticide consumption in the EU continues to grow. (4)
The solution is organic farming
In such a dramatic context, the only solution is to choose to consume organic products.
'The European Parliament's watering down and rejection of the pesticide reduction regulation is shameful.
Politicians who claim to defend farmers by refusing to reduce synthetic pesticides they deceive themselves and public opinion.
The lack of political will to act to reduce pesticides makes it even more evident that the development of organic agriculture is the best way to protect people's health and nature from toxic pesticides', says Eric Gall, deputy director of IFOAM Organics Europe. (5)
Growing for a living
The widespread use of synthetic pesticides represents a significant burden on the health of European citizens and farmers in particular. Synthetic pesticides are also the main cause of the disappearance of birds and insects in the European countryside and are largely responsible for polluting our waters with toxic substances.
Organic farming it is proof that it is possible to produce food of sufficient quality without resorting to synthetic pesticides. The biological approach to plant care is mainly based on preventive and indirect agronomic measures, such as crop rotation, to manage pests and diseases, which can be integrated, when necessary for some crops, with biocontrol solutions such as natural substances, most of which degrade easily in the environment.
Marta Strinati
Note
(1) No majority in Parliament for legislation to curb use of pesticides. Press release. 21.11.23 https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/it/press-room/20231117IPR12215/no-majority-in-parliament-for-legislation-to-curb-use-of-pesticides
(2) Alessandra Mei. Regulation on the sustainable use of pesticides, SUR. The travails of EU reform. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade).
(3) Dario Dongo, Alessandra Mei. Reduction of pesticides in the EU, ahead with mockery. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade).
(4) Dario Dongo. Nature Restoration Law, reduction of pesticides. MEPs at the service of agro-industrial lobbies. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade).
(5) Sprouting discontent: organic movement regrets European Parliament's failure to reduce pesticides. IFOAM Organics Europe. 22.11.23 https://www.organicseurope.bio/news/pesticides-reduction-regulation-organic-movement-rejects-european-parliament-rejection/
