WRITTEN QUESTION E-2601/99

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(11 January 2000)

Subject: Testing the effects of pesticides on environmental management and on pollution

1. Is the Commission aware that the Netherlands is playing a pioneering role in the EU in reducing pollution of the environment by toxic substances in agriculture in that the Dutch authority responsible for the approval of pesticides has banned, with effect from 2000, 42 pesticides still being used in agriculture?

2. Is the Commission also aware that this step forwards puts Dutch farms at a competitive disadvantage compared with similar farms in other EU Member States in that the ban on these 42 substances makes it extremely difficult, if not impossible, for Dutch farmers to grow potatoes, bulbs, onions, grass seed, flax and beans? Dutch farmers who are already under considerable pressure are put in such a difficult position that the result is bankruptcies; one step forwards is tantamount to one step back.

3. Can the Commission say to what extent other Member States are adopting the measures taken by the Netherlands and, if so, when?

4. What action has been taken, or is being taken, to (further) limit the adverse affects of poisonous substances in agriculture, even if this is at the expense of further intensification and increases in scale in the agricultural sector?

5. Is the Commission prepared to combine the desire for reducing pollution of the environment with counteracting distortion of competition by working towards the introduction of a directive on pesticides applicable to all EU countries which is at least as stringent as the rules currently in force in the Netherlands?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(14 February 2000)

1. The Commission is aware that the Netherlands have reviewed recently the authorisation of a number of active substances.

2. Council Directive 91/414/EEC of 15 July 1991 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market(1) provides conditions under which Member States can grant authorisations for plant protection products. This Directive provides for a gradual re-evaluation of all the active substances which were on the market in July 1993. This re-evaluation is under way. The Commission intends to adopt in early 2000 a new regulation to speed up this review.

3. The Commission has no information to which extent other Member States have taken or will take the same measures as the Netherlands. The Commission is however aware of the fact that other Member States are also reviewing the authorisation of certain plant protection products as provided in the Directive. It should be noted that the active substances on which the Netherlands have acted are not necessarily all authorised in all the other Member States.

4. and 5. The Honourable Member is invited to refer to the answer at point 2 above. In addition, in line with the objectives set out in the Fifth environment action programme and its recent revision and the result of a multi-annual project ending in 1998 with some six reports discussed in a Commission workshop with all concerned, the Commission is preparing a communication to Council and Parliament. The workshop documents and conclusions are available on the website of the Commission at: http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/ppps/home.htm.

(1) OJ L 230, 19.8.1991.