To the Chair, Vice-Chair and Members of the
Committees on Health, Environment and Agriculture
Parliament of Denmark
Via email: [email protected] / [email protected]
Brussels, 17 October 2017
Ref. nr.: 17.37832AA
Honorable Members,
Allow me to bring to your attention an issue of the utmost importance for the livelihoods, health
and happiness of your constituents that requires immediate action both at European Union and
Member States level, namely increasing the availability of biological low-risk plant protection
products (PPPs). These are viable alternatives to traditional and often hazardous pesticides, while
contributting to sustainable agriculture and benefitting both public health and the environment.
On 15 February 2017, the European Parliament adopted with near unanimity a Resolution urging
the European Commission to limitedly amend Regulation 1107/2009 so as to facilitate market
access for biological low-
isk PPPs. I dis ega d to the Eu opea Pa lia e t s e uest, the
Co
issio lau ched a full e ie of the ‘egulatio u de the ‘EFIT p og a
e, a exe cise
that will take many years to complete.
On 5 October 2017, I had the privilege to chair an informal dinner for the Members of the
Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed and officials from the Permanent
Representations. Please find enclosed my letter to the European Parliament reporting on this
event (Attachment 1). Attached, you can also find the speech of IBMA (International Biocontrol
Manufacturers Association) Executive Director Mr David Cary (Attachment 2) and an overview of
instances where the Commission adapted Regulations within short time periods following
European Parliament Resolutions (Attachment 3). This demonstrates that when there is political
will, there is a regulatory way, as a Belgian diplomat remarked during the event. Indeed, the Vice-
Chai of the Eu opea Pa lia e t s ENVI Co
ittee M
Pavel Poc stated in a
video message
that
while 1107/2009 needs to be modernized, this cannot be done at the expense of public health
and the environment. European constituencies
–
precisely today and precisely when public
health is at stake
–
deserve and require that politics set priorities.
Currently, of the 493 active substances approved in the European Union, 77 chemical ones are
candidates for substitution. However, in the absence of authorised alternatives caused by the
current regulatory framework, they remain on the market. European farmers need alternatives to
chemical pesticides. SMEs that drive innovation and create jobs need support in a competitive
market. European consumers need food that is produced in a sustainable manner. According to
the UN, each year around 200 000 people die from acute pesticide poisoning, while exposure to
chemical pesticides is linked
to ca ce , Alzhei e s, Pa ki so s,
hormone disruption,
developmental disorders and sterility. How many more people will die or will have their health
severly damaged before the REFIT exercise is over? Action must be taken
now,
otherwise future
generations will hold us responsible.