News that existing voluntary measures and legal requirements governing pesticides in the UK will be largely used to meet new European legislation is a common sense solution according to the NFU.
The introduction of the new European Sustainable Use Directive, which comes into force in November 2011, has seen Defra undergo a detailed consultation to ensure the requirements of the Directive are being met.
NFU Vice President Gwyn Jones said today’s announcement vindicates the approach being used by British farmers and growers who currently use voluntary measures to govern pesticide use.
“Today’s news is a just reward for the farmers and growers who have worked hard with voluntary measures to ensure the safe use of essential pesticides and crop protection sprays,” said Mr Jones.
“This approach is working and will continue to work because we recognise that best practice advice continues to evolve. We encourage all pesticide users to continue working hard at raising standards and ensuring consumer confidence under the successful Voluntary Initiative.
“Farmers are proud that standards here in the UK are world-leading and all along we have said that this new legislation should bring all EU Member States up to the same high levels of competency.
“Pesticides are already very highly regulated in Europe and farmers take the responsibly of using them very seriously. As the UK already has existing best practice measures, which are proven to work, it makes sense to use them to meet the requirements of the new Directive rather than re-invent the wheel - and with it inevitable extra costs.”
“We should remember that pesticides are a vital part of modern crop production. They help British farmers grow sufficient quantities of safe and affordable food which is essential if we are to help meet rising world demand for food while impacting less on the environment.
“For example, a recent report by Cranfield University showed that without pesticides, household expenditure on food and drink could rise by as much as 40 per cent or £70 billion nationally.”
The NFU will now analyse the full report and prepare for a second consultation from Defra on the implementing measures, expected in May 2011.
UK farmers have widely adopted voluntary measures over the past 10 years with the latest figures showing that 89% of the cropped area was sprayed with machines tested under the National Sprayer Testing Scheme and over 20,000 operators are on the N Register of Sprayer Operators.
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