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Pesticides News No 39
The Journal of the Pesticides Trust [now PAN UK]
An international perspective on the health and environmental effects of pesticides
Quarterly/March 1998

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Editorial 2

Organophosphates
Children at risk - More evidence against OPs 3
How safe is our food supply from pesticide residues? A new report by the US Environment Working Group (EWG) claims that each day one million children under five consume unsafe levels of organophosphate (OP) insecticide residues in the US. The scale of potential effects is surprising-but the overall message echoes that given by the UK's own Pesticides Safety Directorate last year. By Peter Beaumont and David Buffin

Europe in Focus
Proposals to reform the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) are set out in Agenda 2000: they will be the subject of intense debate over the next two years. What is at stake is even more intensive production and industrial farming, against a sustainable system, which reduces pesticide use and factors in environmental and social concerns.
    The following pages bring together research and policy recommendations, which could build a new basis for European agriculture. Recent German research shows the benefits from pesticides are limited, and the costs under-estimated. A European Union programme supports research for 'indicators' to measure environmental impacts of pesticides. From the newly-formed UK Centre for Environment and Society, comes detailed recommendations for an agri-environmental strategy.
    The outcome of reform will have far-reaching consequences for Europe.

The costs of pesticides 4
There are health and environmental side-effects attached to pesticide use, in addition to real costs of regulations and control. A study to be published shortly in Germany has identified these impacts, and estimated the economic toll on society as a whole. By Barbara Dinham

Wide variations in use 5
Some farmers have a low input of pesticides and maintain good yields, while others use high inputs without achieving greater yields. Research by Geert de Snoo, Frank de Jong and Rob van der Poll at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands has assessed the extent of variation on this 'usage spectrum'.

If the CAP doesn't fit - reform it 6
The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) objectives, as outlined in Article 39 of the Treaty of Rome, are to increase agricultural productivity, secure European Union (EU) food supplies, stabilize prices and ensure a 'fair standard of living' for EU farmers. These have remained unchanged since 1957. Jules Pretty outlines possibilities for reform.

Evaluation of environmental impact 8
Pesticides of similar cost and effectiveness to the farmer may differ strongly with respect to environmental impact1. How can a farmer take into account the risk for the environment when there are several choices between pesticides? Hayo van der Werf and Christophe Zimmer report of their efforts to provide an environmental yardstick

Top ten food residue issues in Europe 8-9
The issue of 'pesticide residues in food' is notoriously difficult to discuss in public. In the past the perception is that government has favoured secrecy in order not to panic the public. Civil servants such as Caroline Harris of the Working Party on Pesticide Residues (WPPR) believe this is the wrong approach, and in a discussion with David Buffin, she highlights the top ten issues of relevance to pesticide residue analysis in Europe.

A European laboratory for IPM 9
A number of successful integrated pest management (IPM) programmes have been operating in European glasshouses for 15 years. Peter Esbjerg reports on developments.

Sustainable management
Schools to go organic 10
In 1996, the Henry Doubleday Research Association (HDRA) launched a new campaign, Go Organic in the School Grounds. Although some schools have wildlife gardens, grounds' maintenance generally follows conventional practice. The aim of this project, sponsored by the Environmental Action Fund was to encourage schools to review their grounds' maintenance practices and to specify organic methods whenever possible. Maggie Brown of the project reports on the progress so far.

Environmental fate
Insecticides disrupt IPM 12
Some agronomists say broad spectrum insecticides are not needed in Asian rice fields. Here Steffen Johnsen, Le Thi Thu Huong, Kim Thuy Ngoc and Trinh Dieu Thuy examine claims made by manufacturers that two products, fipronil and lambda-cyhalothrin, are compatible with integrated pest management (IPM) in Vietnam.

European profiles
Italy, Norway and Sweden 18
A round up of European data, with country reports on pesticide use, and measures to reduce use, Information provided by Carlo Zaghi, Tond Hofsvang, Anders Emmerman and Peter Bergkvist

News
US news 11
Some 'inerts' cause toxic hazard
In 1997, US agricultural pesticide formulations included about 750 million kg of inert ingredients with a market value of US$388 million. New research carried out by the US environmental group the Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides (NCAP) reveals how toxic these 'inerts' now appear to be.

International news 14-16
Insight on booming Chinese market
While many China observers follow political developments in the country, the agrochemical industry keenly watches its emergence as a major pesticide market. According to a new Agrow report, China is set to become the world's largest market for agrochemicals.

Farmworker exposure in Ethiopia
Ethiopian agriculture provides a livelihood for 80% of the population. A study carried out in the 1994-95 cropping season investigated the impact on pest control workers on State farms.

Fair trade for Kenya's flowers
The flower business is becoming increasingly competitive, with fresh blooms flown from all over the world to grace European tables. Leading producers in developing countries are Colombia and Kenya, and both have attracted criticism for poor labour conditions and high use of agrochemicals. As consumers are turning their attention to fair trading conditions, major supermarkets suppliers are increasingly willing to establish appropriate criteria.

Chronic toxicity of bromoxynil upsets transgenic cotton setup
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will not allow growers to apply the herbicide bromoxynil to transgenic cotton during the 1998 growing season. What now for US farmers trapped in this 'genetics fix'?

UK news 17 and 23
Food Standards Agency proposed
On 14 January the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) and the Department of Health launched a government White Paper, The Food Standards Agency: a force for change, that would create an over-arching independent body-the Food Standards Agency (FSA)-to protect consumer interests in every area of food safety.

Fact sheet 20-21
EBDCs 
EBDCs are a group of fungicides that have been widely applied to crops throughout the world since the 1960s. From the late 1980s their use has caused much debate among regulators about their long-term effects on consumers and occupational users.

Small doses 21

Book reviews and resources 22-23

 
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