Since the last issue of Pesticides News, 10 countries from
eastern and southern Europe have joined the European Union. When the enlargement
took place on 1 May the new Member States came under the common agricultural
policy (CAP). Reforms in CAP give hope for more sustainable agriculture as
support shifts from payments for agricultural production to financial assistance
for environmental improvements. Unfortunately, according to Ewa Hajduk of the
Polish Ecological Club, it seems that the main obstacle to sustainable
development of rural areas in central and eastern European countries is the low
level of awareness and knowledge on the part of decision makers and farmers (see
page 8). In the coming months and years, PAN aims to build common ground to
reduce pesticide use and increase the support for sustainable agriculture across
the east-west European divide through its network of like-minded groups and
individuals.
Consumer concern about pesticide use continues to play an important role in the
way pesticide policy develops. In the UK detailed analysis has been commissioned
by the Food Standards Agency, the official body responsible for food safety
issues. The findings of recent research from the Agency's Consumer Attitudes
Survey for 2003 showed that concern about pesticides has remained relatively
constant at 46% over the period 2000- 2003. A more in-depth examination of these
concerns identified potential risk to health as the primary concern. Even when
consumers were informed about the safety controls that exist, the majority of
68% considered that reducing residues further than the current levels is
important. These concerns have prompted the FSA to develop an action plan to
minimise pesticide residues in food. At the same time PAN UK is working with
farmers and growers to explore practical ways in which they can reduce their
pesticide use (see page 3).
In spite of the urgency to fight the global problems affecting the planet, many
countries are looking to continue using methyl bromide, a dangerous chemical
that is severely damaging the atmospheric ozone layer. Although methyl bromide
is due to be phased out by January 2005 in 33 industrialised countries, 11
countries have been granted exemptions of more than 13,400 tonnes during 2005
under the Montreal Protocol to the Convention on Ozone Depletion. Under the
Protocol rules, exemptions can be granted only if they meet four criteria,
including the requirement that there are no technically and economically
feasible alternatives available to users. Public interest groups such as PAN
will be pointing out to pesticide regulators that the exemptions approved by the
March 2004 Protocol meeting clearly flouted these rules.
Stricter European requirements on pesticide residues and other production
practices are often viewed as trade barriers to developing countries,
threatening livelihoods and economic growth. Two articles report on positive
experiences: helping smallholders in Ghana growing pineapple for export and
reducing harmful pesticide use in Kenyan horticulture by using locally reared
biocontrol agents.
[This article first appeared in Pesticides News No. 64, June 2004, page 2]