Sir
For 50 years regulation has been designed to enable pesticides to be used and alternatives ignored. Regulators don't talk about pest management, and pesticide 'safety' means as safe as is economically and physically possible while allowing widespread use.
The EU claims people continuously exposed to pesticides, for example from food or by living close to where pesticides are sprayed, "may have a higher risk of incidence of cancer or other chronic diseases, birth defects, cancer in offspring, stillbirths and reproductive problems". This is why the use of sprays in farming has been controversial for over 50 years.
The public are rightly wary of government and industry claims that pesticides are 'safe' and the chemical industry should not be surprised at continuing suspicion and criticism by environmentalists and others.
The EU pesticide proposals are supported by almost all of the elected European governments. In terms of direct democratic mandate, they do not go nearly far enough, because almost all of the European Parliament's amendments to strengthen these laws have been rejected by ministers from the Member States.
None of this will affect organic farmers. There is limited use of fungicides on organic fruit and potatoes, but even when fungal disease pressure was exceptionally high last year, only half of the organic potato area certified by the Soil Association was treated with any fungicide. If pesticide restrictions treble non-organic food prices and halve production, the industry will have an alternative.
Emma Hockridge
Campaigns officer
Soil Association