Wednesday, 20th August 2008
Euro MP slams proposed pesticide ban
A Scottish Euro MP has slammed a proposed ban on agrochemicals currently under discussion in Brussels. Describing the move as “Another ill-thought-out piece of legislation from Europe”, Conservative MEP Struan Stevenson says the ban will have a catastrophic effect on Scotland’s farming industry.
Struan Stevenson MEP said:
“The EU is proposing to ban a number of herbicides, fungicides and pesticides from use in our arable sector on health grounds. In the new directive, many of these products would be eliminated because they are allegedly cancer-causing, although there is no substantive scientific evidence to prove this. Indeed, some of the fungicides that are likely to be banned actually prevent diseases in stored grain that, if uncontrolled, can cause toxic contamination with carcinogenic mycotoxins. While I fully support the need for plant protection products to be subjected to rigorous scientific risk-based approval to protect human and environmental health, the effects of such a wide-ranging ban are disproportionate to any perceived risk involved.
“The banning of products like triazoles, which are used to control diseases in wheat, barley and other cereal crops, could see major losses in yields. Farmers in Scotland spray triazoles on spring and winter cereal crops to combat diseases like rhynchosporium, net blotch, eyespot and mildew, which can dramatically reduce crop yields and quality. If triazoles are forced off the market by these proposals, it will have a major impact on barley and wheat crops in the UK, at precisely the time when we are facing a food crisis and a shortage of these basic cereals. These products have helped Scottish farmers to more than quadruple the output of major crops since the 1930s.
“Because of our wet conditions these fungicides are essential for healthy crops that in turn are key ingredients for the internationally renowned Scottish food and drinks industry. France, Spain, Italy and other countries who voted in favour of this ban, did so because in their hot and dry climates, triazoles are not necessary to combat the kind of crop diseases that we face in our wet Scottish climate. With typical ‘savoir faire’ our Mediterranean neighbours knew that such a ban would place the UK at a competitive disadvantage and open up new market opportunities for them. The proposals are thus being driven by a cynical attempt to seize market share rather than any effort to improve health and safety.
“At a time when the need for good, affordable, local food is an issue making the headlines, this directive will have serious consequences. Farmers would need to see substantial price increases in order to be able to sustain the production of crops like barley, wheat, potatoes, fruit and vegetables affected by these bans. Price hikes for foodstuffs in the current climate would be deeply unpopular and would add to inflation. The ban will also have a major impact on other associated businesses like the haulage industry, the food industry and of course the drinks industry who depend upon access to high quality agricultural raw materials at competitive prices in order to meet consumer demand for food. The sector is already facing serious challenges from rising fuel and commodity prices and this ban will simply exacerbate the situation, potentially forcing up prices in Scotland by as much as 30% for wheat and 49% for potatoes.”
