MEPs vote to ban pesticide use around public areas 

Members of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety voted on the Thematic Strategy for Pesticides and the proposal for a Framework Directive on the Sustainable Use of Pesticides. 

"Voting by a large majority (34 for, 11 against, one abstention), the Committee supported a clear choice to take further steps towards a definitive ban on pesticides asking member states for a progressive reduction in their use from -25% in the next five years to -50% within the next decade," said Roberto Musacchio, shadow rapporteur for the GUE/NGL's Pesticides Framework Directive proposal.

Georgina Down, of the UK Pesticides Campaigns, said: "Considering the distances pesticides have been shown to travel then the Committee was absolutely right to vote in favour of substantial no-spray zones in fields around residential areas, school grounds, playgrounds and other areas where members of the public may be exposed, as small buffer zones or 'strips' would clearly be completely inadequate to prevent public exposure to pesticides, especially in relation to the protection of children and other vulnerable groups." 

The European Crop Protection Association (ECPA) responded with disappointment to the vote and 'regrets the decision to impose arbitrary use reduction targets instead of supporting risk reduction through improved use practices.'

"[We] regret that MEPs did not opt for a system which would effectively curb the increasing over-use of pesticides in Europe and guarantee greater protection of health and the environment," said a group of NGOs including EEB, FoE, HEAL and PAN Europe. 

The Thematic Strategy for Pesticides and the proposal for a Framework Directive on the Sustainable Use of Pesticides must now be examined at the end of June 2007 by the Agriculture Council and also possibly by the Environment Council.