Join lobby against EU pesticide legislation

Industry bodies are continuing to call on growers and other horticulture professionals affected by the proposed EU legislation on pesticides to ask their MEPs to reject the proposals at the European Parliament plenary vote which takes place next week on Tuesday 13 January.

They are also calling for MEPs to support an EU-wide impact assessment should the legislation be passed.

Both the NFU and HTA have prepared briefing materials to help members write letters to their MEP.

The HTA's background material, which includes a template letter, can be found at the HTA website: www.the-hta.org.uk

The NFU's briefing materials can be found at its website: www.nfuonline.com

Tim Briercliffe, business development director of the HTA, which has been campaigning with the Crop Protection Association on the issue, said that while he was pleased with the constructive dialogue that had been had with many MEPs, "we are deeply concerned that when the European Parliament votes a significant number of products used by the ornamentals and leisure industry will be removed by 'cut off' criteria."

NFU vice president Paul Temple said:

"I am concerned over the lack of sound science behind the plans and we cannot support measures which reduce the tools available to farmers and growers to produce crops - particularly at a time when we need to be increasing food production, not restricting it.

"We are calling on our members to write to their locals MEPs to express their concerns over these proposals and ask them to reject this deal at the plenary vote".

Source:- Horticulture Week