Spain continues to use banned pesticides due to the damage they cause to health and nature

According to the document, this a loophole in regulations that allow “exceptions” to continue using these substances in an emergency (default or actual)this one too “widespread abuse” In some cases. As a result, such banned substances “could continue to be present in our food and harm the environment, with their inherent risks,” according to Carlos de Prada, head of the initiative. non toxic homeCollaborating with PAN Europe.

According to Carlos de Prada, “it is absolutely unacceptable to continue to allow the use of banned pesticides because of their risk to human health and/or the environment”. “Some countries’ abuse of so-called emergency exceptions must stop”because they are toxic substances that are associated with effects such as carcinogenic, mutagenic, genotoxic or serious environmental damage (eg substances that are very toxic to bees), among other risks.

13 permits in Spain

The PAN Europe report reveals that 236 emergency permits were issued for 14 pesticide active ingredients in the EU between 2019 and 2022, out of 24 substances the organization investigated. 24 of the 27 countries of the European Union recognized the exemption. The country with the most approvals is Austria (20), followed closely by Finland (18), Denmark (17) and Romania (16). Spain ranks eighth on the list of countries with the most permits, along with Belgium and Poland, with 13 permits.

In PAN Europe’s view, what should have been exceptional would have become a “fake door” allowing the use of prohibited substances. This organization also discloses that the pesticide industry is the main applicant for such “exceptions” to be granted in the name of alleged farmers’ interests.

It also points to In most cases, Member States authorize them without the “emergency” procedure being duly indicated. as well as the claim that non-chemical alternatives do not exist (although both are prescriptive conditions for granting these exceptional permits).

According to PAN Europe, “States and the European Commission condone such agriculturally unjustified practices”. means giving the industry a “blank check” to keep banned toxic pesticides on the market.

The PAN Europe report cites as an example of the irregularities committed, as cited by the opinion of the Spanish Ombudsman in 2021, criticizing the Ministry of Agriculture’s recognition of exceptions to allow the use of certain articles without justification of fact or supposed facts. “emergency”.

Almost half of the “derogations” awarded in the EU neonicotinoid insecticides (47.5%)known for its damage to pollinating insect populations. This diquat herbicide It is the second article in terms of the number of exceptions granted (48 in total). It is an endocrine disruptor that has been banned due to its risks to human health and can be used for controversial “grain drying”, not to prevent any pests, but in clear violation of regulations. That is, instead of waiting for the sun to dry crops at harvest time, use herbicides heavily on them, even at the expense of increasing contamination levels with their residue.

The third item in the ranking is highly toxic soil fumigant 1,3-dichloropropenewas never ratified in the EU, with 30 exceptional permits. This extremely dangerous substance is used in monocultures of fruits and vegetables not only to destroy possible pests, but also to destroy all forms of life in the topsoil, including beneficial ones. It is mainly used in southern Europe (Italy, Portugal, Spain and Greece). Other examples of prohibited dangerous goods that have received an “emergency” permit include: chlorpyrifosBanned in 2019, to the child’s brain or mankozebIt was banned in 2020 and has been associated with toxicity to the fetus.

Concentration of powers in Murcia

“Emergency” permits for 1,3-dichloropropene have primarily been granted to pesticide companies. But in Spain, it was given to a public authority, the Directorate of Agriculture of the Region of Murcia, which is representative of the least. 20% of all EU exemptions for this clause. This organization justified this by claiming that certain intensive farming systems favor some pests such as nematodes and fungi, without considering the adoption of alternative systems.

According to PAN Europe, exemptions granted to different articles “do not comply with EU legislation as they are not supported by a real emergency” that justifies them. In addition, in any case, there are non-chemical or less toxic chemical alternatives, which once again calls into question the legitimacy of what has been done.”

Reference work: https://www.pan-europe.info/sites/pan-europe.info/files/public/resources/reports/Report_Banned%20pesticides%20still%20widely%20used%202023.pdf

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Contact address of the environment department: [email protected]