The European Parliament has voted in favour of a ban on the use of pesticides in Ecological Focus Areas (EFAs).
The vote means the European Commission’s proposals to ban the use of pesticides on nitrogen-fixing crops, fallow, cover and catch crops can now come into force.
Farmers who receive subsidies from the bloc’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and with arable land exceeding 15 hectares must ensure that at least 5% of their land is set aside for nature improvement.
This include measures that affect biodiversity such as field margins, fallow land, buffer strips and hedges and trees.
It is up to national governments to draw up a list of ecological focus areas, based on a common EU definition, and taking national circumstances into account.
A group of European Parliament lawmakers sought to block the spraying restriction, saying it would undermine the production of crops that are allowed to be cultivated in ecological focus areas.
However, the lawmakers’ objection fell short, garnering 363 votes.
'Urgency'
Ed Hutley, farm consultant at Strutt & Parker, said it is 'vital' that farmers are given clarity on how the rules will be implemented with 'some urgency'.
He said: “People are currently looking at next year’s cropping plans and will need to know if adjustments are necessary to ensure they can meet their 5% EFA requirement when it comes to completing their 2018 Basic Payment Scheme application.
“The majority of our clients use peas or beans to meet their EFA requirements, but without pesticides their viability as break crop will be questionable.
“This means farmers will instead look to maximise any other fallow, buffer strips and hedges to use as EFA.”
The ban on use of pesticides in certain ecological focus areas will apply beginning January 1 2018.
