SECURING AND STRENGTHENING UK PESTICIDE STANDARDS IN 2020
Policy briefing for parliamentarians February 2020
The following is a broad overview. PAN UK is keen to provide further detail on the issues outlined below. Please contact Josie Cohen, Head of Policy & Campaigns, josie@pan-uk.org / 01273 964 233 Introduction 2020 is a pivotal year for UK pesticide legislation and regulation. There are a number of unprecedented opportunities to put in place measures that will significantly reduce pesticide-related harms to human health and the environment. If we take these opportunities the UK could become a world leader in food, farming and environmental standards. In contrast, this year also presents some major threats to existing UK pesticide standards which parliamentarians have the chance to defend. These efforts will be watched closely by the British public, 78% of which think the UK government should be doing more to support farmers to reduce pesticide use. Pesticide use in the UK has risen significantly in the past three decades. How the UK chooses to govern pesticides will have profound implications for the health of citizens, the natural environment and the future of UK farming. It is absolutely crucial that we get it right.
Overview of key opportunities 2020 In broad terms, the processes that need to be completed before the end of the transition period in order to safeguard UK pesticide standards include:
6 Conversion of EU pesticide laws into domestic legislation, ensuring that the new UK system is fit-for-purpose in terms of protecting human health and the environment;
6 Negotiation of UK trading relationship with key countries (including the EU and US) and to what extent our pesticide standards will align;
6 Fill the ‘governance gap’ by ensuring that UK institutions are fit for purpose to carry out roles previously performed by EU bodies (such as authorising specific active substances for use and setting limits for the amount of a pesticide that’s allowed to appear in food);
6 Create a new system for agricultural subsidies which will support farmers to reduce their pesticide use and reward those already using minimal or no pesticides.
KEY LEGISLATIVE AND POLICY PROCESSES IN 2020 Agriculture Bill 6 The new “public money for public goods” approach is a huge opportunity to support farmers to adopt and maintain non-chemical alternatives to pesticides. It’s crucial that this approach is not undermined by a catch-all clause providing payments for productivity.
6 PAN UK is pushing for the inclusion of an amendment on encouraging the adoption of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices in England. The Government’s commitment in its 25 Year Environment Plan to ‘making IPM central to our approach’ has yet to be implemented.
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