Brussels, Belgium
September 12, 2007
The
European Crop Protection Association (ECPA) responded with
disappointment to today's European Parliament Environment
Committee vote on the new Regulation concerning the
authorisation of plant protection products in the EU. In
particular, ECPA regrets the decision to impose additional
cut-off criteria and the decision to remove the possibility of
rapid national authorisations for products containing new
substances.
Exclusion of active substances
ECPA does not support the Committee's decision to prohibit
approval of certain active substances based on potential hazards
- without evaluating whether or not they pose a risk in a
real-use situation. This approach would lead to the
disappearance of many substances that have long been used safely
by farmers and which farmers need to protect their crops from
disease. ECPA believes that concerns should continue to be
addressed in a sound scientific manner and as part of a detailed
scientific evaluation.
Removal of National Pre-Authorisations
The removal of the existing system of rapid national
authorisations for products containing new substances would
increase the time to market by an estimated three years - or
more if the system does not become more efficient! Not only will
this discourage investment in the EU but it will also slow down
the introduction of new and innovative products that are
desperately needed by EU farmers.
ECPA's Regulatory Affairs Director, Euros Jones, commented:
"Today's vote is a major setback for the principles of sound
science and rational decision making. Being the responsible
Committee in Parliament, the Environment Committee has not
struck a balanced approach between safeguarding both human
health and environmental protection with the basic need to
protect our food production. This approach would severely reduce
the available solutions from the already dwindling plant
protection toolbox for European farmers.
We believe that the legislation should allow for sensible
substitution - with the rapid and controlled introduction of new
substances to allow farmers to choose the most effective
products, and to remove identified substances only when viable
alternatives are available."
Some positive outcomes from the vote
There were few promising decisions taken from today's vote. ECPA
however welcomes the Committee's view that clear principles on
parallel trade are necessary as part of the proposed
legislation. Products that are traded among EU Member States
should adhere to identical high health and environmental
standards.
The next step will be the vote in the Plenary Session of the
Parliament, scheduled for October 2007.
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