Consultation launched on controversial pesticide rules

Three overarching options to implement the European Directive on the Sustainable Use of Pesticides have been identified, each with a cost to industry.

• Option 1 – Implementation of the minimum required by the Directive (cost to industry £13 million)
• Option 2 – Improve and strengthen the current statutory and voluntary controls (cost to industry £32 million)
• Option 3 – Adopt regulatory controls wherever possible (cost to industry £176 million)

The Directive, which must be implemented under EU law, covers areas including the training of pesticide users, inspection of spraying equipment and minimising the risk of pollution from pesticides.

It also covers access to information about pesticides used near homes, and how people could be given the option to obtain this information.

Environment Minister Dan Norris said whatever option was chosen, public health was the priority.

“I look forward to hearing people’s views on how we can build on the UK’s very high pesticide safety standards.

“We need a balanced approach to further reduce the risks and impacts of pesticides on people and the environment, while ensuring we can continue to grow high-quality affordable food to help feed a growing population.”

Initial reaction from industry has been for voluntary, rather than statutory measures. For instance if farmers were asked to notify residents before they used pesticides, rules should be based around a voluntary, not compulsory (and potentially costly and bureaucratic) framework.  

Georgina Downs of the UK Pesticide Campaign said it was vital the Government introduced compulsory measures, and accused Ministers of neglecting public health in its approach to pesticide regulation in the past.

She said: “It really is astonishing that Defra Ministers can say that public health is the Government’s priority when the Government has done nothing to introduce measures to protect human health and has fought tooth and nail against me in the courts for the last 6 years on the issue.

“Mandatory measures must be introduced to finally protect the health of residents and other members of the public from exposure to pesticides.

“These measures have to be at Governmental level from changes to its policy so that it is consistent for all rural residents across the country.”

She said the most important part of that should be to ban spraying around homes, schools, children’s playgrounds and other public areas.

The consultation, which has been launched by the Chemicals Regulation Directorate on behalf of Defra, runs until May 4.

To respond, contact Caroline Kennedy at EU Pesticides Consultation (Stage One), Room 214, Chemicals Regulation Directorate, Kings Pool, 3 Peasholme Green , York, YO1 7PX or email ConsultationCoordinator@hse.gsi.gov.uk.

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