Special Crop Research News
EU Thematic Strategy on Pesticide Proposals

The European Commission is currently reviewing the revision of the Plant Protection Products Directive 91/414/EEC.  This will result in changes to the way pesticides are approved within Europe and could result in up to 85% of products being withdrawn.  This would be devastating for UK agriculture. 

The European Parliament's Environment Committee (the lead committee on this issue) votes on the pesticide proposals on 5 November. 

Therefore we are asking growers to write (via mail or e-mail) to their UK MEPs on the Environment Committee NOW.

Format of your letter to MEPs:

• A personalised letter - this will have far greater impact than the same template letter being used by everyone. Highlight impacts on your business, the crops you produce, and the people you employ.
• A short letter - maximum of 2 pages.
• A letter focusing on the impacts of the proposals (rather than the details of the proposals themselves, which are horrendously complicated).
• Calm and polite arguments - otherwise you will get no reply.
• Ask questions - as these should prompt a reply.

Suggested points to make in your letter:

• It could lead to the loss of up to 85% of pesticides currently used because of their "hazardous" properties.
• If a wide range of pesticides are not available, yields will drop, prices will rise and it may be impossible to grow some crops in the UK.
• If crops cannot be grown in the EU then produce will be imported from outside the EU where these products can still be used. This will reduce the potential for local produce and increase the carbon footprint from imports.
• This is happening at a time when newspapers are full of stories on the increasing price of food and potential food shortages.
• Stress how professionally pesticides are currently used.
• Please vote against proposals that will further restrict the products available.
   
  At this stage please only contact the members of the Environment Committee to express your views.  Other MEPs are aware of the proposals and have already had some letters but the best time to write to them is in the weeks immediately prior to the plenary vote.  Further details on this will be available closer to the time.

Documents that you may find useful:
 
1. The full PSD Impact Assessment conducted by ADAS:
http://www.adas.co.uk/index.html?did=347&pg=1

2. A variety of further information can be found on the NFU website:
http://www.nfuonline.com/x31907.xml

3. News bulletins on the Crop Protection Association website:
http://www.cropprotection.org.uk/content/MoreInfo.asp?mid=98

Some Crop Examples
The following are quotes from the PSD Impact Assessment. 

Cereals

• lack of insecticidal control for aphids leading to large BYDV problems,
• lack of control options for orange blossom midge,
• lack of control options for new pests as a result of milder winters,
• further severe difficulties in controlling black-grass due to the loss of pendemathlin and mesosulfuron-methyl,
• difficulty in maintaining a resistant management strategy with limited herbicide options; 
• difficulties in controlling the key disease of wheat in Septoria tritici due to loss of triazoles, chlorothalonil and stroblurins;
• difficulty in keeping mycotoxin levels down in the absence of triazoles.  This is at the time when the EU is introducing specific measures to limit mycotoxin levels whilst removing one of the most effective control options,
• lack of a control option for wheat bulb fly, leatherjackets and fritfly.

Oilseed rape

• difficulties with weed control, particularly for cleavers with reduced herbicide options, putting further pressure on the remaining herbicides which are already being found in water,
• difficulty of controlling light leaf spot and phoma,
• poorer crop establishment due to lack of insecticide seed treatments.

List of UK MEPs on Environment Committee that support the change in regulation

Glenis Willmott, Labour, East Midlands; 23 Barratt Lane, Attenborough, Notts., NG9 6AD;
e-mail:glenis.willmott@europarl.europa.eu

Linda McAvan, Labour, Yorkshire and Humberside; Labour Constituency Office, 79 High Street,
Wath-upon-Dearne, S63 7QB;
e-mail:linda.mcavan@europarl.europa.eu

Chris Davies, Lib Dem, North West; 87A Castle Street, Stockport, SK3 9AR;
e-mail:chris.davies@europarl.europa.eu

Dr. Caroline Lucas, Green South East (substitute); Suite 58, The Hop Exchange, 24 Southwark Street, London, SE1 1TY;
e-mail:caroline.lucas@europarl.europa.eu

Jill Evans, Plaid Cymru, Wales; 23 High Street, Chancery Lane,  Abertteifi, Wales, SA43 1HD;
e-mail: jill.evans@europarl.europa.eu

Eluned Morgan, Labour, Wales (substitute); Labour European Office, Transport House, 1 Cathedral Road, Cardiff, CF11 9SD;
e-mail:eluned.morgan@europarl.europa.eu

A word document is attached in case  you want to print this out.