URGENT: Request for support regarding critical EU pesticide policy proposals

MEP’s to Vote on critical EU pesticide proposals: Contact your MEP before 23rd October 2007 to have you say

In July 2006, the European Commission proposed 3 new pesticide policy proposals in Europe which will cover the authorisation and use of pesticides:-

Commission Communication: Thematic Strategy for Pesticides COM(2006)372;

Proposal for a Framework Directive on the Sustainable Use of Pesticides COM(2006)373;

Proposal for a Regulation Concerning the Placing of Plant Protection Products on the Market COM(2006)388

In accompanying documentation to the proposals the European Commission clearly acknowledged the long term impacts of pesticides by stating that long-term exposure can lead to cancer and neurological effects, amongst other conditions, including for those living in the locality to sprayed fields.

For example, the Questions and Answers for the EU Thematic Strategy for pesticides states, "Long term exposure to pesticides can lead to serious disturbances to the immune system, sexual disorders, cancers, sterility, birth defects, damage to the nervous system and genetic damage." (Source:http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/06/278&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en)

Page 23 of the Impact Assessment for the Thematic Strategy states, "In general, adverse health effects can be divided into acute or chronic effects.

Acute impairment of health - Short-time exposure to pesticides can cause severe acute health effects, including diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, profuse sweating, salivation, blurred vision, irritation of skin and death are examples that have been reported in various publications.

Chronic impairment of health - Chronic health impairment results from a low but constant level and has a long-term character. Major incidents, in particular clear correlations between exposure and chronic effects, are not often recognised immediately since no obvious symptoms of poisoning exist.

There are various sources for continuous exposure, like the consumption of polluted water, pesticide residues in food, regular application of PPP over many years, or residential proximity to it and consequently direct exposure via air. People regularly or repeatedly exposed to or working with pesticides, may have a higher risk of incidence of cancer or other chronic diseases, birth defects, cancer in offspring, stillbirths and reproductive problems, skin rashes and disorders, disturbed enzyme and nervous system."

(Source: Page 23 http://ec.europa.eu/environment/ppps/pdf/sec_2006_0894.pdf)

The European Environment Committee has recently voted on amendments to the 3 pesticide proposals in the first reading and the Environment Committee’s adopted reports will now all go to plenary at the end of October to be voted on by all MEPs.

Since January this year, the UK Pesticides Campaign has focussed on the European proposals and I have spent the last 9 months going backwards and forwards to Brussels to make representations on behalf of rural residents and communities to MEPs from all political parties. The UK Pesticides Campaign has been the only representative of rural residents that has been lobbying hard in Brussels specifically on behalf of residents and communities.

Key amendments that have currently been voted through regarding residents include:-

the prohibition of pesticide use in substantial no spray zones around residential areas, parks, public gardens, sports grounds, school grounds, playgrounds, amongst other places, especially to protect sensitive groups, such as, babies, children, pregnant women, the elderly, those with pre-existing medical conditions and who may be taking medication, along with all other vulnerable groups. The amendment also specified that in all these areas non-chemical alternatives should be used

a new legal obligation to inform residents and neighbours about pesticide spraying in their locality

a new legal obligation for farmers and other pesticide users to provide information on the pesticides used directly to residents and neighbours

the classification of rural residents as a vulnerable group

a clear definition of a substance of concern being any substance that has or potentially has either carcinogenic, mutagenic, endocrine disrupting, neurotoxic, immunotoxic, reprotoxic, genotoxic or skin sensitizing capabilities should be regarded as a substance of concern

the entire terminology used throughout the adopted text of the Regulation proposal, including the title, to be changed from “Plant Protection Products” (PPP’s) to pesticides

a new definition for the prioritization of non-chemical methods of plant protection and pest and crop management (including rotation, physical and mechanical control and natural predator management)

These are things that the UK Pesticides Campaign has been campaigning for since the outset of the campaign at the beginning of 2001 and it is absolutely critical that all these key amendments that have been adopted in the Environment Committee reports are retained in plenary.

For further information on the European pesticides policy proposals, along with an MEP briefing that the UK Pesticides Campaign has prepared please contact me at gdowns25@tiscali.co.uk

The UK Pesticides Campaign would urge residents and others concerned about the health and environmental impacts of pesticides to contact their MEPs as a matter of urgency to encourage them to vote in favour of increased protection of human health and the environment from pesticides, particularly the health of residents and communities who are a group with one of the highest levels of exposure to pesticides, as residents are exposed on a long-term basis to mixtures of pesticides, repeatedly sprayed, in their locality, throughout every year, and in many cases, for decades.

Even just a short email containing a few key points would help, as the more emails, letters and messages that MEPs receive the more impact it has. This is particularly important considering the industry have embarked on a massive campaign blitz to try and get the amendments that have gone through rejected.

Suggested key points that you could make in your email message or letter to your MEP include:-

Explaining your own experiences of pesticide exposure and any related ill-health to yourself and/or any members of your family and/or animals etc.

Urging your MEP to support the Environment Committee’s 3 adopted reports on the Thematic Strategy for Pesticides; the Framework Directive on the Sustainable Use of Pesticides and the Regulation Concerning the Placing of Pesticides on the Market as they currently stand (although comments on the few problem areas which you may want to point out to your MEP are contained in the MEP briefing which is available from the UK Pesticides Campaign upon request)

That pesticides use should be prohibited in substantial no spray zones around residential areas, parks, public gardens, sports grounds, school grounds, playgrounds, amongst other places, especially to protect sensitive groups

That residents have the right to know about pesticide spraying in their locality and to be provided directly with information on the pesticides used

That the new proposals do not need to be overburdensome and in any event the public health and environmental benefits, that would include a reduction in the external costs of pesticide use, (eg. health and environmental costs etc.) would far outweigh any burdens on the farmer or pesticide user having to adapt their practices and activities to abide by the new regulations introduced

The inconsistency between the preventative action taken in the UK to ban smoking in public places and the lack of action regarding passive exposure to pesticides

The need for immediate preventative measures to be introduced, especially in relation to the protection of children and other vulnerable groups

The widespread adoption of sustainable non-chemical and natural methods, as an alternative to chemical pest control would be more in line with objectives for sustainable crop protection, as reliance on complex chemicals designed to kill plants, insects or other forms of life, cannot be classified as sustainable and therefore that priority should always be given to non-chemical methods

That non-chemical methods would not necessarily result in a decrease in yields and would reduce or even eliminate the health and environmental costs that currently exist in relation to the use of pesticides, as well as eliminating the costs of the farmer/pesticide user having to buy the chemicals in the first place. This would result in significant economic and financial benefits and is the only real solution to protect public health and prevent any illnesses and diseases that could be associated with pesticides, for now and for future generations etc.

To find your local MEPs see:-http://www.europarl.europa.eu/members/public.do?language=en

Please do contact your MEPs and make your voice heard in this critical debate as these pesticide proposals will set pesticide policy throughout the whole of the EU for at least the next 10 years and possibly even the next few decades. Therefore whatever goes in is absolutely of the utmost importance. Also if the proposals remain with a key focus on the protection of public health and the environment then this will obviously override the UK Government’s absolute inaction in protecting human health from pesticides.

Thank you so much for all your support.

Kindest regards to you all,

Georgina

UK Pesticides Campaign