Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2007-10-22-Speech-1-076"
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"en.20071022.14.1-076"2
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"Mr President, first let me thank the European Parliament and especially the rapporteurs, Mrs Belohorská and Mrs Klaß, for their exceptionally thorough work. Thanks are also due to the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee, to Mr Ebner and the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, and to Mrs Corbey and the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, for the reports and view they expressed at first reading.
Sixthly and finally, but just as importantly, we must support agricultural techniques which have recourse to low pesticide doses. This is to enable the implementation of integrated pest control, which ought to become compulsory from 2014.
Other measures envisaged by the thematic strategy have been incorporated or will be incorporated shortly in other legislative acts. These include a proposal to regulate the placing of plant protection products on the market. The regulation will bring about an ever greater restriction of harmful active substances circulating in the market, particularly through comparative assessment and adherence to the principle of substitution. This is my colleague Mr Kyprianou’s proposal, which we are also discussing this evening on the basis of the report drafted by Mrs Breyer.
There is also a proposal to regulate the collection of statistical data on plant protection products. This proposal is of crucial importance; it establishes indicators to measure progress on risk reduction. The proposal is now being discussed by the relevant Parliamentary Committee.
There is also a proposed new directive laying down basic specifications for spraying equipment to be placed on the market. The proposal will add to the existing provisions on the maintenance and regular inspection of spraying equipment.
In conclusion, Mr President, let me stress how important an aspect of the proposed directive on the sustainable use of pesticides integrated pest management is. This is a fundamental measure of the Commission’s proposal; it has been debated by the other parliamentary sub-committees.
Nobody doubts that we must reduce dependency on pesticides and turn to more environmentally friendly alternative means of protecting plants and controlling pests. Integrated management and pest control are the most effective way to achieve this goal. It is thus particularly important that this element should be maintained in our proposal and should become compulsory in all Member States from 2014.
Over the last thirty years the EU’s policies and laws on the protection of public health and the environment have enabled us to make significant progress, considerably reducing the risks of pesticides. Current legislation, however, focuses on the one hand on approving and placing products on the market, and on the other hand on monitoring product residues in food and animal feed. Between these two points of focus no law covers the period when pesticides are used. This, however, is the crucial stage; during it human health and the environment are at risk.
The monitoring programmes implemented in Member States have exposed traces of pesticides not only in food and animal feed but also in the environment itself, in concentrations exceeding the limits values set by European legislation. Additionally, it has become clear that pesticides are an issue of serious concern to European citizens. We ought therefore try harder to increase the protection of European citizens and our environment. The thematic strategy on the sustainable use of pesticides and the framework directive accompanying it are covered under the general heading of tackling the human health and environmental due to pesticides.
The main elements of the Commission’s proposal for a framework directive are as follows.
Firstly, each Member State will draw up national action plans establishing targets, measures and timetables to reduce risks and dependence on pesticides.
Secondly, professional pesticide users, who are mainly farmers, distributors and advisers, will need to have access to appropriate training. This will teach them enough about the risks of pesticides and about using alternative means. Public awareness-raising about the risks of using pesticides will also need to be increased.
Thirdly, professional equipment for pesticide spraying will have to undergo regular checks and be correctly maintained.
Fourthly, aerial spraying will be prohibited, but Member States will retain the option to make exceptions in limited cases where aerial spraying is the only feasible solution.
Fifthly, special measures will be taken to protect the general public and vulnerable sectors of the population, as well as water systems and geographical areas, such as those of the Natura 2000 network. Such measures may include, among others, creating buffer zones, or prohibiting or restricting the use of pesticides."@en1
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