Green MEPs urge EU to close pesticide loophole

EFAs are areas of land set aside for agricultural practices that are beneficial for the environment and aim to boost biodiversity
EFAs are areas of land set aside for agricultural practices that are beneficial for the environment and aim to boost biodiversity

EU agricultural ministers have been urged to close a loophole that permits the use of pesticides on Ecological Focus Areas (EFAs).

EFAs are areas of land set aside for agricultural practices that are beneficial for the environment and aim to boost biodiversity.

Six types of land make up EFAs: fallow land, buffer strips, field margins, catch crops, green cover and nitrogen-fixing crops.

"Permitting the use of pesticides in Ecological Focus Areas is totally inconsistent with greening agricultural policy," said Keith Taylor MEP, a member of the European Parliament’s environment committee.

"Pesticides do not help to increase biodiversity, they limit it.

"It’s time to close the loophole that allows toxic chemicals to be sprayed on these areas.

"Pesticides kill a wide range of bacteria, fungi and invertebrates – not just the species targetted – so they have no place in areas that are set aside to improve biodiversity."

Permitted use of pesticides in EFAs is
Permitted use of pesticides in EFAs is 'totally inconsistent' with greening agricultural policy, Green MEPs have said

Limit biodiversity

Keith Taylor MEP, a member of the European Parliament's environment committee said permitted the use of pesticides in EFAs is 'totally inconsistent' with greening agricultural policy.

"Pesticides do not help to increase biodiversity, they limit it.

"It’s time to close the loophole that allows toxic chemicals to be sprayed on these areas.

"Pesticides kill a wide range of bacteria, fungi and invertebrates, not just the species targetted, so they have no place in areas that are set aside to improve biodiversity."

Molly Scott Cato, Green MEP for the South West who sits on the Agricultural Committee in the European Parliament said farming needs to take a giant leap forward.

"Farming can and should play a key role in supporting and bolstering natural processes such as pollination and water and nutrient cycling while a focus on soil health can ensure farming plays an important role in helping to stabilize our climate through carbon capture."

'Resilient and robust agro-ecosystems'

Jean Lambert, Green MEP for London said: "Resilient and robust agro-ecosystems are essential to withstand climate change and other environmental impacts.

"The benefits of restricting pesticides and so boosting Ecological Focus Areas can be seen not only on the farms in question but across whole landscapes, with improvements to entire rural communities and indeed the whole of society."

The three MEPs made a written submission to the Commons inquiry on The Future of the Natural Environment, expressing their concerns about the future of farming support following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.

They are also supporting a new European Citizens’ Initiative, People4Soil, which aims to get over a million people to sign a petition to put pressure on EU institutions to adopt specific legislation on soil protection.