New rules to reduce the risk and use of pesticides in the EU

The European Commission has proposed new rules to reduce the use and risk of pesticides in the European Union, delivering on the 'Farm to Fork Strategy' objective of a fair, healthy and environmentally respectful food system.

Binding EU-level targets have been introduced to reduce by 50% the use and risk of chemical pesticides and the use of the more hazardous pesticides by 2030. Member States will have to set their own reduction targets within clearly defined parameters as well as their own strategies to ensure that the EU wide target is achieved collectively.

A comprehensive new enforcement framework, meanwhile, will ensure that all farmers practice Integrated Pest Management ‘IPM', in which all alternative methods of pest control are considered first, before chemical pesticides can be used as a last resort measure.

The use of all pesticides will be prohibited in sensitive areas (and within 3m of these areas), such as public parks or gardens, playgrounds, recreation or sports grounds, public paths, as well as ecologically sensitive areas.

Farmers will be supported by the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in this transition: for five years, Member States can use the CAP to cover the costs of the new requirements for farmers.

There are major risks to the health of citizens linked to the use of chemical pesticides, especially for those using them but also for vulnerable groups and children. Pesticides can cause both acute and long-term health impacts. Chemical pesticides can have dermatological, gastrointestinal, neurological, carcinogenic, respiratory, reproductive, and endocrine effects. High occupational, accidental, or intentional exposure to pesticides can result in hospitalization and death.

Already in 1990, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that about one million cases of unintentional pesticide poisonings occur annually, leading to approximately 20,000 deaths. A recent review estimates that about 385 million cases of unintentional acute pesticide poisonings occur annually worldwide including around 11,000 fatalities.

Each year between 2013 and 2019, pesticides were detected above their effect threshold at between 13-30% of all surface water monitoring sites of European rivers and lakes.

Reducing our dependence on chemical pesticides is therefore a key part of the process of building more resilient, sustainable food systems for 2030 and beyond.

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