Tuesday, 21st October 2008
Tory MEP leads charge for action against pesticide ban
Following a response by EU Commissioner Vassiliou to recent calls from seven Scottish MEPs to halt the forthcoming ban on pesticides (being brought in by the European Parliament), Tory MEP Struan Stevenson is leading the charge for further action to be taken to protect Scottish farming.
Mr Stevenson said:
“In a joint letter to the EU Commissioner all seven Scottish MEPs called for a full socio-economic impact assessment to be undertaken before this ban was put in place. So I am extremely disappointed to receive a reply from the Commissioner which totally ignores our request.
“The Commissioner does not even mention the likely impact on Scottish farmers; she simply repeats the argument and statistics that are already in the public realm that support this proposal.
“She has taken no cognisance of the impact this ban will have on Scottish farmers, crops, food production and ultimately Scottish consumers.
“I will be in regular contact with the NFU and other interested groups in Scotland, to give them my support in fighting this ban, and agree what can be done to stop this unfair proposal from coming into force.”
