rape production estimates United Kingdom. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/469400/structurejune-ukcerealoilseed-statsnotice-20oct15.pdf
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Italy: municipal ban on pesticide use
Policy mechanism relevant to case study Obligatory area-based restriction on pesticide use Case study location and context The Italian municipality of Malles Venosta/Mels in the province of South Tirol has around 5000 inhabitants and intensive apple production, mainly under the South Tirol apple protected geographic origin label. The apple production involves intensive use of pesticides. Description of policy mechanism(s) or other methods used in case study The municipal authority has passed a municipal regulation to prohibit pesticide use. The regulation bans the most toxic pesticides and requires a 50 m buffer zone to neighbouring land for the use of other chemical-synthetic pesticides. The buffer zone rule will have a significant impact as the average parcel size of apple orchards in Mels is less than 3 ha. The mayor is setting up a working group with the apple farmers with the aim of supporting the transition to organic farming. The regulation also obliges the municipality to provide organic catering. The new regulation is based on a municipal referendum which was held in August 2014, at which 3,348 of the 4,837 eligible voters participated and 75% supported a ban on hazardous pesticides. A similar municipal regulation, in place in the Italian municipality of Malosco since 2010, has been approved by the Italian Council of State. Evidence of environmental effectiveness No information as the ban has only just been implemented. Many apple farmers already farm according to integrated production guidelines (AGRIOS), however these guidelines fall considerably short of organic criteria, and there is no information on the level of compliance. The IP guidelines require farmers to implement a few measures from a selection of options, such as use of scab / powdery mildew resistant varieties, non-chemical vegetation management, use of pheromones, or low drift spraying. Pests and diseases must be monitored at least three times a year. A list of authorised pesticides is allowed, including up to 5 applications of dithiocarbamates (metam, thiram, ziram). Evidence of other benefits The mayor is promoting the vision of an organic production community in Malles, with economic, health and social benefits for apple farmers, the local population, and for tourism. Evidence of perverse effects on pesticide use None expected as all pesticides are subject to the buffer zone restriction. Compliance monitoring & enforcement – effectiveness, costs Compliance monitoring will include residue analysis. Costs to farmers No information available, but some apple farmers have protested against the referendum and the ban because they fear that it will have significant economic consequences for them. Other costs (administrative etc) No information yet. Due to the very small parcel structure (average 2.5 to 3 ha) it is very difficult for an individual farmer to convert to organic because of the influence of pesticide drift from neighbours, and the cooperative processing and marketing structure also has a strong influence. There are currently only 70 organic producers in the Val Venosta cooperatives association, which unites 2,000 fruit farmers and seven cooperatives. Information sources
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