At a public hearing in the European Parliament organised by MEPs Christa Klaß and Erna Hennicot-Schoepges, the European Crop Protection Association (ECPA) today called on stakeholders to support a new plant protection marketing regulation that stimulates innovation in new products essential for the production of safe healthy food and sustainable farming.

A proposal for a new plant protection marketing regulation was submitted by the European Commission to MEPs last year aimed at improving public health and the environment. But there are concerns that the proposals could have a negative effect on sustainability, competitiveness and innovation in farming and the food chain.

ECPA supports good science based regulation but certain provisions in the proposal abandon this key principle. The Commission's proposal will also reduce Member States' flexibility in the approval process and create additional barriers, such as weaker data protection rules, that will reduce the industry's incentive to invest in new, better targeted and more effective plant protection products.

ECPA Director General Friedhelm Schmider said: "Our industry is constantly foccused on producing better plant protection products which are fundamental to the production of safe, healthy, and affordable food for consumers"

In addition ECPA reconfirmed it's strong support for the goals of the new framework directive on the sustainable use of pesticides with a view to measures which will further reduce potential risks associated with the application of plant protection products. These measures should start where action can be taken most effectively, namely initiatives aiming at improving use practices.

Today's political debate shows the important role MEPs will need to play in shaping new legislation regulating the authorisation and use of plant protection products in order to secure high quality afordable food for a growing population and avoid competitive disadvantages for European farmers on the the world market.