Les ministres européens en faveur de restrictions sur les pesticides[en] 

The Commission presented its ‘Thematic Strategy’ on the sustainable use of pesticides on 12 July 2006, as part of the Environment Action Programme (see EurActiv LinksDossier on the 6th EAP). However, the German Presidency has shifted the legislative proposal to the Agriculture Council. 

The strategy consists of proposals for:

• a regulation on authorisation procedures for plant protection products;
• a framework directive laying down common objectives and requirements on how pesticides are to be managed. 

The proposed regulation on the placing of plant protection products on the market, would update an existing 1991 directive on the issue, and aims to: 

• Tighten environmental and health criteria for approving active substances before they are allowed at EU level;
• reduce the time limit to approve new substances from 4-6 years to two years;
• encourage the replacement of dangerous substances by placing them on a "candidate list" for substitution;
• introduce compulsory mutual recognition of authorised products within a specified geographical zone, and; 
• present new rules concerning data protection, under which active substances will no longer have to be renewed every 10 years but only once, after an initial 10 year period. 

Pesticides are considered essential to protect crops from insects, rodents and fungi. But they can also accumulate in the environment and cause risks to human health when they end up in drinking water. Potential health risks include cancers, genetic disturbances and damage to the immune system.

The thematic strategy proposes banning aerial spraying except for strictly defined cases, national action plans, certification and control of equipment, training for professional users and protection of the aquatic environment.

The Environment Council conclusions, adopted 20 February 2007, called for:

• specific measures to protect surface water and groundwater to reduce the risk of pesticides to the aquatic environment; 
• greater coherence between the water framework Directive (WFD) and the proposed legislation on pesticides;
• the use of voluntary as well as mandatory measures to reduce the administrative burden;
• widenening the strategy to cover biocides;
• the development of integrated pest management methods and procedures,
• more Community funding to support the sustainable use of pesticides, and;
• continued action to protect developing countries from the risks of pesticides.

Reacting to the Council meeting, the Commission said it regretted that the legislative proposal had been shifted to the Agriculture Council. "Discussions...are now handled by the Agricultural Council although they are clearly related to environmental issues," said Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas. The Commission said it was also disappointed that member states did not follow its invitation to apply a harmonised VAT rates to pesticides.

Commissioner Dimas called for the proposals to be presented to both the Environment and Agriculture Councils meetings in June "to ensure consistency between the legislative proposals of the Thematic Strategy and existing environmental legislation, in particular regarding water, waste, birds and habitat".

The European Crop Protection Association (ECPA), has expressed concern that the proposal "introduces unnecessary new hurdles for the authorisation of pesticides" and stifles innovation in the area.

Environmental groups have also criticised the initiative "The Commission's strategy is a visionless patchwork. It lacks enforceable targets or market-based instruments, like a pesticides tax, to achieve its ends", said John Hontelez, Secretary General of the European Environmental Bureau (EEB).