Pan Europe calls for more engagement in reducing the use of pesticides in the EU
Pan Europe sent letter to Tonio Borg, who heads the European Commission's directorate-general for Health and Consumers, asking to make more efforts to ensure that EU member states are implementing the Sustainable Use Directive (SUD)
11.07.2013 |
The directive established requirements for the use of pesticides in EU member states, with the goal of reducing risks to human health and the environment. The directive also encourages states to use non-chemical alternatives to pesticides.
After taking a close look at the action plans of 12 countries, Pan Europe has evaluated that a lot more efforts could be done on the part of the member states. For example, of all the countries analyzed, only Denmark has actually set a definite goal for the reduction of pesticide use, even though the directive clearly states that they should do so.
Another criticism made by Pan Europe is that the member states seem more willing to reduce the use of pesticides in public areas, such as recreational parks, than in agriculture. The organization also considers that the action plans are mild in tackling aerial spraying, which should be prohibited according to the directive.
To read the original article by Pan Europe, please visit the Pan Europe website.
To learn more about the hidden costs of the use of pesticides in agriculture, watch the informative video on Pan Europe’s homepage: http://www.pan-europe.info/
