The Sustainable Use Directive (SUD) was adopted by the EU in 2009 to provide a range of actions that Member States should follow to help reduce the risks and impacts of pesticide use on human health and the environment; promote the use of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and alternative approaches or techniques.
The report adopted by MEPs recognises the value of these rules, but asserts that progress by Member States in implementing these rules has been “insufficient” to yet realise the regulation’s objectives.
Several recommendations are made, such as a call for to EU to introduce binding targets on reductions in pesticide use; limit emergency authorisations of restricted pesticides; and strictly ban imports of food products treated with pesticides that prohibited in the EU.
While not legally binding, the report sets out the direction in which MEPs would like these rules to develop.