Disappointingly, Conservative MEPs, even with the support of the UK government and NFU, were today unable to prevent a ban on the use of a large number of pesticides in the European Union.
The ban was approved by the European Parliament today, despite warnings from my MEP Robert Sturdy that an overzealous approach would reduce yields of a number of foods including carrots, cereals, potatoes, onions and parsnips, whilst pushing up prices for consumers.
He said afterwards:
"This law will drive up the cost of the weekly food shop at the worst time for British families.
“We do need strong restrictions on pesticide use but it should be based on sound science, rather than on the whim of politicians. There has been no balance whatsoever in the parliament’s position. MEPs have failed to see pesticides as necessary tools in maintaining our crops.
“Many of the products on the market today are safe when used correctly, and have been around for years. Without crop protection products, our food supplies will be volatile at a time when food security is rising up the political agenda.
“The Labour government has expressed platitudinous concern about this directive, but it has failed to put the case nearly as strongly as it should have.
“It is ludicrous that such a plan would be brought into law without an impact assessment to gauge its consequences. The only hope we have is for a last-ditch effort by the government to demand we finally get an overall picture of how food production will be affected across the EU.”
Let’s watch this space and see if the British government can redeem itself by getting that overall picture. It’s surely crucial to have that kind of information before making the final vote.
Why don’t other European MEPs share the same common sense view that any ban on pesticides should only be based on sound science?
I agree these decisions should be based on science and fact rather than a gut reaction or appealing to the masses!
Very little today seems to be based on sound science, but a great deal is based on emotional attitudes and political rectitude. I fear we are becoming an increasingly moronic society.
It is an amazing decision considering the huge effect it will have on production in Britain which has made studies which the EU has not.
I posted on this yesterday and got a lot of different responses.
I’m totally in favour of banning dangerous pesticides whereas other people seem less bothered about it, which I find very alarming!
http://www.lettersfromatory.com
I seem to be able to grow all those things without pesticides… if your farmer friends need a few tips I am available.
Mass production is a different thing altogether though, Mutley.
Why can’t we just decide for ourselves ? Oh. Silly me. We no longer have sovereignty over our own country.
Can someone please tell me how the EU has been good for Britain ? And no – it didn’t achieve peace in Europe, Nato did that.
“common sense is in short supply I fear…
The EUssr monster rolls on………….
The EU never thinks things through.
Good policy.
[…] tooth and nail to try and persuade his colleagues in Brussels to see sense over voting for the EU’s pesticides’ ban without having an impact assessment, warning it could affect our future food security. […]