UK pesticides tax less likely

The debate continues in the UK over whether a pesticides tax will be introduced. For the time-being the proposal has been ruled out, but the issue has not been completely buried, according to the November Pre-Budget Report.
    The government accepts that there is increasing evidence of significant environmental impacts associated with pesticides, and will continue to pursue its policy of minimising pesticide use. The government says that the agrochemical and farming industries have made good progress in adopting minimisation measures, but it says there is scope for further action to be taken to address the adverse impacts of pesticides on the environment.
    In March 1999, the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions published Design of a Tax or Charge Scheme for Pesticides by the consultants ECOTEC. This showed a carefully designed tax or charge scheme could be used to address the environmental impacts of pesticides use.
    The government concluded that the tax or charge remains a useful tool in conjunction with other measures, to address the environmental impacts of pesticides. However, over the next few months the government intends to explore with the agrochemical industry whether its objectives can be better achieved through a partnership approach between the government and industry.
    The Pesticides Trust [now PAN UK] is concerned that the government seems to be veering away from a pesticides tax, and moving towards a compromise with the pesticides industry.

Stability and Steady Growth for Britain, Pre-Budget Report, November 1999, The Stationery Office.

[This article first appeared in Pesticides News No. 46, December 1999, page 22]