Editorial - Pesticides News 58

On 26 November, a hundred delegates, comprising regulators from Europe and developing countries, representatives from farming organisations, food importers, supermarkets, NGOs and researchers, gathered in London. They discussed the limitations of modern pesticide regulatory systems, and the benefits of introducing comparative assessments when evaluating the risks of pesticides (see box). This issue of PN contains edited versions of papers presented.
    Michael Meacher, UK Environment Minister, launched the Pesticide Challenge conference on precautionary approaches to pesticide policy and regulation. The conference made recommendations for discussions with the European Commission and Member States opening next year.
    Risk assessment is an inexact science. It discounts the cumulative risks from pesticide exposures at home and at work, and overlooks additive and synergistic effects of multiple low-level pesticide exposure. It fails to take account of conditions of use in developing countries, where regulators are often guided by decisions taken by the well-resourced regulatory bodies of Europe and the United States. 

In July 2003 a total of 320 pesticides that are not fully backed-up with modern testing requirements will no longer be allowed in the European Union. Farmers and growers need help identifying less hazardous alternatives. Shortage of alternatives may keep on the market some chemicals that do not meet the strict new standards. The organophosphate chlorfenvinphos, for example, has had its approval extended for certain vegetable pests, while garlic granules remain unapproved although they may offer an alternative.
    Consumers are keenly aware of food safety and want to see pesticides eliminated from the food chain. Sensitive to their concerns, some retailers, including the Co-op, have introduced standards for pesticide use and residues above legal requirements and are imposing stricter conditions on suppliers and farmers.
    The conference saw the launch of a new publication from PAN UK that brings together over 30 papers showing the adverse impacts of pesticides, and providing radical reappraisal of the science of pesticide exposure and health. Silent Invaders: Pesticides, Livelihoods and Women's Health ‘is a well-documented, excellent reasoned case against the continued widespread use of chemical pesticides,’ says Professor Dennis Parke, former Chairman of the WHO Joint Meeting on Pesticide Residues.

[This article first appeared in Pesticides News No. 58, December 2002, page 2]