Mr Alyn Smith has
hailed the publication of a major report on the real world implications of the
current debate on EU pesticides policy reform. Proposals currently under
discussion in the European Parliament and Member
State governments could
see many plant protection products withdrawn from the market, and Smith fears
that there are inadequate replacements available. The MEP has
consistently pressed the European Commission to carry out a full economic
impact assessment as the initial assessment is now almost two years old, so the
assessment published today carried out by the
European Parliament's Committee carries real weight, and backs Smith's
concerns.

The report concludes that Europe's
farmers have managed until now to attain world record yields that contributed
to the food self sufficiency of the continent. In case the worst
scenarios are confirmed, regarding the impact of "cut-off" criteria,
the European agricultural economy and related upstream and downstream industries will wither and Europe will become a net importer of agricultural
products.

Smith commented:

"This report carries real weight, having been produced by the Parliament's
own research people. The fact that this so starkly confirms what many of us
have been saying for months is truly frightening, and I hope the member state
governments will pay good heed.

"I have no difficulty with the principle that the EU's chemical industry should
be pressured to innovate towards cheaper, safer products, but there has to be
balance and food security must surely take precedence unless there are real
proven risks to any particular product.

"For those of us from wetter climes this dossier is particularly worrying,
and while I have seen some moves in a sensible direction from the trialogue
process, particularly towards longer lead in times, I remain deeply concerned
that the pesticides dossier could make the lives of Europe's farmers, and hence
consumers, more difficult and we need to call a halt to the discussions until
we are in possession of all the facts."