Pesticides: MEPs to vote on cutting use and risk of plant protection products
Parliament is set to adopt its position ahead of negotiations with EU governments on measures to reduce the use and risk of plant protection products by 2030.
MEPs will debate on Tuesday and vote on Wednesday on the report by the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee to reduce the use of chemical plant protection products and make them safer by at least 50%; they would also reduce the use of so-called “more hazardous products” by 65%, compared to the 2013-2017 average. The Commission proposed a 50% target for both based on the 2015-2017 average. The report also calls for a ban on all chemical pesticides in sensitive areas such as Natura 2000 areas including urban green spaces, and a new EU 2030 target to increase the sales of low-risk pesticides.
On Thursday, Parliament will also vote on a resolution from the Environment Committee on the revised EU Pollinators Initiative to reverse pollinator decline that is largely due to the use of chemical pesticides.
Background
Parliament has, on numerous occasions, called for the EU to transition to using products that protect plants in a more sustainable way. MEPs have called on the Commission to propose an ambitious and binding EU target to reduce the use of chemical pesticides. The proposal is part of a package of measures to reduce the environmental footprint of the EU’s food system and mitigate the economic losses due to climate change and biodiversity loss.
Procedure code: 2022/0196(COD) & COM(2023)0035
Debate: Tuesday 21 November 2023 & Wednesday 22 November
Vote: Wednesday 22 November 2023 & Thursday 23 November
Procedure: Ordinary legislative procedure & Oral question with resolution