Labour face embarrassment over EU pesticide control

Brussels 18 October -- British golf courses could be devoured by weeds if a new EU Directive aimed at controlling the use of pesticides is passed unamended by the European Parliament next week.

Debated next Monday the controversial Directive on the Sustainable Use of Pesticides seeks to ban all weed-killing in public places. This would mean the end of pesticide spraying on golf courses and motorway verges. The proposed law, backed by the Socialist Group which includes Labour MEPs, also says that farmers must notify their neighbours in writing every time they use pesticides on their land and that no spraying should occur 10 metres on either side of canals (which would end 80% of farming in Holland).

Timothy Kirkhope MEP, Conservative Leader in the European Parliament, says:

"Labour could tie farmers' hands behind their backs if they back this nanny state law. Banning aerial spraying and the use of pesticides in public areas is just not common sense.

"The pesticides directive would interfere with low risk activities such as weed control by local authorities. Council taxes would rocket. Golf courses could be forced out of business.

"Banning weed control in a 10 metre buffer zone beside canals ignores whether the pesticide poses a risk to aquatic life. It is already protected anyway by existing water pollution legislation. Finally, the compulsory notification of farming neighbours is just not practical."