Anger for stricter crop protection rules

The modified authorization of 18 plant protection products in Germany can count on little sympathy from the sector. The evaluator Umweltbundesamt (UBA) states that when using these resources, 10% of the plot must be used for biodiversity.

In a press release, the Deutschen Bauernverbandes (DBV) speaks out against this stricter requirement. The UBA has the requirement for 18 different substances tightened up† These include an insecticide, fungicide and a herbicide with glyphosate as the active ingredient.

Requirements for biodiversity
The products were re-admitted to the German market in February 2018. However, the UBA has ruled that an additional requirement applies from 1 January 2020: the users are obliged to take at least 10% of their company surface out of production and use it for biodiversity. An example of this could be the creation of flower borders.

DBV calls the requirement is illegal and against European Union (EU) law. "The greening measures are organized through the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and not through a resource authorization", says Joachim Rukwied, the chairman of DBV. "The legal basis for the rule is missing, both in Germany and the EU. The measures for biodiversity do not belong in the assessment for plant protection products."

According to DBV, biodiversity was worked on on 2016 million hectares of agricultural land in 4,4. This equates to every fourth hectare in the country. 40% of all companies participate voluntarily in such programs. It concerns 110.000 companies.

Agriculture minister distances himself
The Bundesamt für Verbraucherschutz und Lebensmittelsicherheit (BVL), part of the German Ministry of Agriculture, has also expressed a negative opinion about the state of affairs at UBA. It says the agency has no right to impose these measures. Agriculture Minister Julia Klückner has distanced himself from the measures and confirms that it is not possible to enforce land use in such a way.

Niels van der Boom

Niels van der Boom is a senior market specialist for arable crops at DCA Market Intelligence. He mainly makes analyses and market updates about the potato market. In columns he shares his sharp view on the arable sector and technology.

n.vanderboom@boerenbusiness. Nl

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