WRITTEN QUESTION E-1701/96 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (25 June 1996)

Subject: Maximum levels for pesticide residues in fruit and vegetables, cereals and foodstuffs

The present framework for fixing maximum residue levels under Directives 76/895 ((OJ L 340, 9.12.1976, p. 26. )); 86/362 ((OJ L 221, 7.8.1986, p. 37. )); 86/363 ((OJ L 221, 7.8.1986, p. 43. )) and 90/642 ((OJ L 350, 14.12.1990, p. 71. )) will have to be improved if the Community is to be better equipped to carry out the more extensive tasks it will face in the future.

Does the Commission not consider that it would be useful to establish as soon as possible the correction factors to be applied in calculating MLR in processed and compound products and that foodstuffs of this kind should be included in the procedure for settling disputes (safeguarding the application of Articles 30 to 36 of the Treaty) and the monitoring procedure?

Does the Commission not agree that crop diversification should be encouraged and that, with regard to the data for less widely grown crops, it is necessary to make maximum use of existing research and the possibility of extrapolating the data obtained for other crops in non-member countries?

In relation to these directives, does the Commission not consider it essential to promote research programmes to develop pesticides which are not harmful to human health and new environmentally sound methods of cultivation?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-1700/96, E-1701/96 and E-1702/96 given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (5 September 1996)

The Commission is aware of the need for the availability of adequate plant protection treatments for the cultivation of minor crops and has already taken certain initiatives to achieve this objective when establishing maximum pesticide residue levels. These measures, whilst maintaining a high level of consumer protection, allow for reduced residue trial data for certain minor crops with a low dietary intake and, where possible, for the extrapolation of data between crops.

The Commission can fully agree with the necessity for research and development in the field of plant protection. Considerable research investment is undertaken by the commercial operators involved in the plant protection industry. For its part, the Community deploys considerable resources in its research and technological (RTD) programme 'Fair'. This programme is currently dealing, inter alia, with the following topics:

- development of non-chemical or low-chemical methods (e.g. integrated crop management), mechanical equipment and techniques promoting practices which are more environmentally friendly and give greater protection to the environment (water, soil, landscape, etc.) to reduce contamination and erosion and increase production efficiency (including biological means of pest control and biotechnology);

- improvement of non-chemical (mechanical techniques, crop management, genetic resistance) and low-chemical and biological methods of crop protection (major and minor crops) and post-harvest treatment, in particular for the most harmful organisms;

- prediction of environmental fate of agrochemicals and effect on the environment and on human health.

Finally, in the framework of the 5th environment action programme ((COM(94) 453 final. )), the Commission is also sponsoring a project on the sustainable use of plant protection products in order to identify appropriate instruments whereby reduced use and impact of plant protection products on the environment may be achieved.