WRITTEN QUESTION P-0480/03

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(17 February 2003)

Subject: Obsolete pesticides

In her answer to Written Question E-1951/02(1), the Commissioner with special responsibility for the environment said: Although there may indeed be very large quantities of obsolete pesticides in Central and Eastern Europe, requests for Community financial assistance for the destruction of obsolete pesticides have been very limited. None of the candidate countries has so far during the accession negotiations raised the destruction of obsolete pesticides as an issue. In fact, it is the Accession Countries who have to take the initiative. On 4 December 2002, 28 MEPs signed a letter concerning such forgotten pesticides which was sent to all those responsible for environmental policy in all the applicant countries. In that letter, reference was made to the answer to Written Question E-1951/02. The addressees were asked to contact the Commission with a view to discussing the possibility of assistance being granted for the destruction of such obsolete pesticides.

Can the Commission indicate which applicant countries have already established contact in connection with this issue, and does the Commission feel that, given the facts of the case, it should also take the requisite steps to contact the applicant countries on its own initiative?

Can the Commission indicate whether the applicant countries now have available the appropriate thermal incinerators required for the destruction of such obsolete pesticides, and can it confirm, on the basis of that information, that the obsolete pesticides in the applicant countries will, therefore, not be incinerated in plants located on the territory of the current Member States?

Is the Commission aware of the problems caused by obsolete pesticides, and can it indicate what measures it is taking to convince the applicant countries of the absolute need to do something about them?

(1) OJ C 28 E, 6.2.2003, p. 159.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(16 April 2003)

To date, no Candidate Country has sought to contact the Commission specifically about assistance in relation to the issue of the destruction of obsolete pesticides.

However, the Commission has commissioned a study in order to be able to better identify the problems associated with obsolete pesticides in the Candidate Countries and the ways in which the countries are going to deal with them(1). The study, which was published in September 2002, provides an overview of each of the Candidate Countries of stockpiled obsolete pesticides, including persistent organic pollutants, and their management.

The Commission has not sought detailed information on the thermal incinerator capacity of Candidate Countries. However, Candidate Countries will be required to implement Community legislation concerning hazardous waste that ensures that these stockpiles are disposed of in an adequate manner. According to Council Directive 91/689/EEC of 12 December 1991 on hazardous waste(2) pesticides are considered as hazardous waste requiring specific care during disposal (incineration in specific incinerators). If a Candidate Country does not have an adequate incinerator which respects the environment acquis, this will necessitate upgrading of the facility or transport to appropriate incinerators elsewhere in the Union.

As indicated in the reply to Written Question E-1951/02 by the Honourable Member the Commission is aware of the problems caused by obsolete pesticides and Community financial assistance is available if requested by the Candidate Countries. In its recent Communication, Towards a thematic strategy on the sustainable use of pesticides(3) which follows on from Article 7(d) of the 6th Environmental Action Programme(4), the Commission proposes that, in close co-operation with Candidate Countries, specific support programmes be developed, which target the handling of stocks of obsolete plant protection products and their safe destruction. However, the Commission is of the opinion that responsibility and initiative should be taken by the Candidate Countries themselves, in line with their obligation to transpose and implement the acquis.

Given that a percentage of obsolete pesticides fall under the scope of the Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutants, measures for their disposal will be eligible for funding through the Convention. So far proposals from seven Candidate Countries for inventory work for persistent organic pollutants related contamination have been accepted.

(1) European Commission, Directorate General for Environment, Obsolete Pesticides Status in Candidate Countries. Final Report. September 2002.

(2) OJ L 377, 31.12.1991.

(3) COM(2002) 349 final.

(4) Decision No1600/2002/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 22 July 2002 laying down the Sixth Community Environment Action Programme, OJ L 242, 10.9.2002.