Increased production costs, increased incidence and resistance of many pests and diseases, the marginalisation of minority products, more products of non European origin, greater pressure on land and in short, enormous production difficulties are just some of the consequences emerging from the new Regulation being prepared in Brussels for European agriculture.
The agreement reached by EU Agriculture Ministers on 23rd June represents a further step towards establishing a new regulation on the use of phytosanitary products on European crops. Although the approval process in Brussels includes another passage through the Parliament before the Council returns the document for final approval, which is anticipated to happen early next year, the news has caused deep unease in the sector.
The future Regulation contemplates new approval criteria for active substances based on intrinsic hazard and not an evaluation of the risk, as has been the case until now.
Sources at the European Crop Protection Association (ECPA) expressed their concern particularly with regard to the introduction of new criteria excluding active substances which have been used safely for many years.
These same sources pointed out that the agreement will have a very negative impact on the production of many crops: “just because a product has risk characteristics, doesn’t mean it is dangerous. An exact evaluation of dosage, current use, security periods, etc is needed.”
“It is inconceivable that at the current time of food crisis and astronomical prices for basic foods, that these proposals should be carried out, because it is going to be much more difficult for European farmers to produce quality fruit and vegetables at reasonable prices. The result of the current decision will mean an increase in prices and imported products.

” These same sources said that the impact of this decision should be independently valued. “We understand that the Commission may not agree with our association’s evaluation, but more appropriate solutions could be found. In any case, it contradicts recent evaluations carried out by independent institutions.”
Freshfel explained that the withdrawal of certain products may not happen immediately. “We hope that the change will be gradual, rather than an overnight change which would have a greater impact.”
Carlos Palomar, director of AEPLA (Business Association for Plant Protection) categorically confirmed to this publication that when the phytosanitary products registered for crops in Mediterranean countries are used according to the Good Farming Practices indicated on the label (dosage, safety periods, etc), they are totally safe.
The manager of Catalonia Qualitat, Manel Simón said that active substances would be eliminated faster than new ones were included. “This leaves farmers unable to fight pests and disease and creates resistances in the integrated production system as there will be no alternative active substances for fighting the same disease.”
The only positive aspect of the new Regulation is the Zonal Evaluation proposal for phytosanitary products which would create three zones, to speed up the registration of new active substances. The northern zone would include Denmark, Lithuania, Latvia, Finland and Sweden; the central zone would comprise Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia and the United Kingdom and the southern zone would include Bulgaria, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Cyprus, Malta and Portugal.