WRITTEN QUESTION E-0122/99

by Patricia McKenna (V) to the Commission

(2 February 1999)

Subject: Reduction of the use of pesticides and biocides in the European Union

When does the Commission intend to introduce proposals to reduce the use of pesticides and biocides as it promised to do in the Fifth Environmental Action Programme of 1992?

Will the Commission take steps to ban the most dangerous pesticides and biocides and to increase the speed with which it assesses chemicals currently available for sale in the European Union?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(23 March 1999)

After adoption of the fifth environment action programme(1) the Commission launched a project called "Sustainable use of plant protection products". The aim was to investigate the current use patterns of plant protection products (agricultural pesticides), the problems associated with their use, and to prepare possible future initiatives. This project came to an end in May 1998 when a workshop, including all concerned, discussed the outcome of the project reports and adopted conclusions. The full study reports can be obtained directly through the Commission's pages on the Internet http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg11/ppps/home.htm. As a follow up, the Commission is currently preparing a communication on the sustainable use of plant protection products, which is included in the Commission's work programme for 1999.

The project focused on the agricultural use of pesticides, but parts of it also covered biocidal uses and will be used in the future for assessing the need to take further steps for reduction of the use of biocides as a complement to the implementation of European Council and Parliament Directive 98/8/EC of 16 February 1998, concerning placing of biocidal products on the market(2).

Pesticides which do not satisfy the human health and environmental safety requirements laid down in Article 5 of Council Directive 91/414/EEC of 15 July 1991 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market(3) or Article 5 of the above-mentioned biocides Directive 98/8/EEC are withdrawn from the market without prejudice to steps taken to ban these chemicals under Council Directive 79/117/EEC of 21 December 1978 prohibiting the placing on the market and use of plant protection products containing certain active substances(4) or Directive 76/769/EEC of 27 July 1976 on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States relating to restrictions on the marketing and use certain dangerous substances and preparations(5). Ninety active substances are currently under examination under Commission Regulation (EEC) 3600/92 of 11 December 1992 laying down the detailed rules for the implementation of the first stage of the programme of work referred to in Article 8 (2) of Council products on the market(6). Several of these have been withdrawn and other assessments still require final decision. New steps will be taken in the near future to increase the pace for assessments under Directive 91/414/EEC, while preparations are under way to start the evaluations of biocidal products as soon as Directive 98/8/EC is implemented by Member States, which is foreseen by 13 May 2000 at the latest.

Industrial chemicals are divided into "existing" and "new" chemicals. "Existing" chemicals are those which were on the Community market before 18 September 1981. Data provided by European industry shows that there are approximately 2 500 "existing" chemicals on the Community market in quantities greater than 1 000 tonnes, representing some 90 % of the chemicals traded. These chemicals are prioritised for an assessment of their risks to human health and the environment, with the most dangerous being assessed first.

All "new" chemicals are assessed for their risks to human health and the environment before they are placed on the Community market. Since 1993, some 600 new chemicals have been assessed.

The Commission has commenced stock-taking of the main Community legislation on industrial chemicals, to see what improvements are necessary. A communication on this matter setting out an integrated strategy for the regulation of industrial chemicals in the Community, is foreseen in the Commission work programme for 1999.

(1) OJ L 275, 10.10.1998.

(2) OJ L 123, 24.4.1998.

(3) OJ L 230, 19.8.1991.

(4) OJ L 33, 8.2.1979.

(5) OJ L 262, 27.9.1976.

(6) OJ L 366, 15.12.1992.