Address by David Cary, Executive Director of IBMA (International Biocontrol Manufacturers
Association), during the
Public Health
and the Food Chain
information session on biological low-
risk pesticides, antimicrobial resistance and listeria, 5 October 2017
I would like to thank you all for providing the opportunity to address you this evening on the
important issue of low-risk Plant Protection Products (PPPs).
With regards low-risk, some positive actions have occurred, particularly noteworthy being the
revision of low-risk criteria, although some guidance in two areas still needs to be produced but will
be completed shortly. The establishment of the EU Sustainable Plant Protection Group and
subsequent development and publication by the EU Council of Ministers of a forty-point action plan
for IPM and the accelerated introduction of low-risk PPPs will have a lasting effect.
I have just returned from participating in the 3
rd
Global Minor Use Summit in Canada where whilst
listening to Klaus Berend (Head of Pesticides Unit, DG SANTE) I could almost believe that 1107/2009
is an example of perfectly functioning legislation. Having reflected on this, Klaus indeed succinctly
described what was intended by European Commission, European Parliament and Member States
many years ago, a regulation that was harmonised, gave access to the single market and protected
human health and the environment. Also, when combined with the Sustainable Use Directive we
should have a sustainable agriculture rich with alternatives and IPM standard practice. I ask you,
is ’t
reality somewhat different? The legislation is failing these intentions in several areas including
for low-risk active substances and products the majority of which are biopesticides. We rely more
and more each day on a list of Candidates for Substitution and a growing number of Emergency
Authorisations often of substances that either have been removed or awaiting substitution.
A clear demonstration of the fact that the legislation is not delivering was shown at a stakeholder
workshop co-ordinated by the European Commission and the appointed consultants for conducting
the REFIT exercise. At that meeting and in public meetings prior to the REFIT launch it has been
made very, very clear that no corrective measures will be taken or even proposed during the REFIT
exercise as per standard practice using the REFIT process. If any recommendations come and there is
no commitment for this, it will be as a result of follow-up activities if and when they may be
initiated.
Why are the emergency permits granted growing year on year? I will tell you why, we have not
delivered low-risk biological replacements! SME industry and farmers cannot wait for this to maybe
take place. Luc Peeters (Chair Copa and Cogeca, Phytosanitary Working Group) eloquently explained
at the same GMUS 3 conference in Montreal mentioned earlier that 1107/2009 is failing to deliver
the tools farmers need. IBMA and Copa and Cogeca have produced position papers highlighting this
issue. Did you know that 80% of IBMA members are SMEs? This week alone we had 3 new
applications and they were all from SMEs.
The European Parliament has previously acknowledged this and have proposed and passed with
near unanimity the Motion for Resolution for fast tracking low-risk solutions for European farmers.
On the 6
th
June, a EP debate was hosted by Pavel Poc MEP for CZ and attended by Commissioner
Andriukaitis. Prior to this, we have been assured not once but twice by Commissioner Andriukaitis
himself that bringing more low-risk biopesticides on our EU market would be prioritised. A
consensual desire to deliver more of these tools in an expedited timeframe was expressed by the
European Commission,
patie ts’
groups, human health experts, environmental NGOs, farmers and
farmer groups, researchers, conventional and biological PPP industry and SMEs. Unfortunately, there
was one dissenting voice in that of the European Commission believing this can be delivered within