In June of last year, the European Commission proposed a plan to cut pesticide use by half in the European Union by 2030, with national targets to be set by each Member State based on their starting point. The Commission did not assess the agricultural consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine when presenting the proposal, prompting Member States to request a new impact analysis in December.
In the same week, Brussels released a new impact analysis confirming that the proposed pesticide reduction targets would not threaten food security. The commission stated that the short-term negative effects of Russia’s war on Ukraine do not alter this outcome.
Conversely, failing to meet the pesticide reduction target could have potentially irreversible long-term effects on food security in the future, the analysis warned.
The Commission noted that its response to Member States suggests possible ways to reduce the administrative burden on farmers and to explore alternatives to chemical pesticides. It indicated that more action could speed up the introduction of these alternatives to the market while keeping the overall positive trend. The plan emphasizes using the most dangerous and chemical pesticides only as a last resort.
Continued adherence to integrated pest management and seeking independent advice on its implementation, as proposed in the draft EC legislation, could allow farmers to reduce dependence on chemical pesticides without harming the profitability of their operations. Data released by the Commission showed that member states have made significant progress toward the targets set in the legislative proposal.
already shrinking
Across the EU in 2021, the use of chemical pesticides fell by 33 percent and the use of the most dangerous pesticides dropped by 21 percent. As the EU advances toward its 50 percent reduction goals by 2030, there is still substantial work to do, according to officials.
Following the impact analysis, several wine industry organizations expressed deep concern about the future. They warned that the approach might undermine the future of European viticulture and the regional wine sectors, especially if other regions do not comply with sanitary standards. They argued that the wine industry aims to participate in ecological transitions in a sustainable way, without compromising its future or the regions that define European viticulture. They called for a realistic action plan that accounts for the time needed to identify and implement effective alternatives to phytosanitary products.
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