News Crop protection
Citizens' initiative calls for ban on GBM by 2035
The European Citizens' Initiative, an official part of the European Commission, has launched a petition to ban the use of synthetic plant protection products in the EU. The deadline for this is 2035. 1 million signatures are required to be processed.
The European Citizens' Initiative works just like a citizens' initiative in the Netherlands. It takes 1 million votes from citizens of 7 EU countries to be considered by the European Commission. The aim is to increase democracy in the EU. 18.750 signatures are required from the Netherlands.
Total ban on PPPs
The Save Bees and Farmers initiative was launched on November 25, after approval by the EC. 90 different organizations from 17 countries have united here. The aim is to phase out the use of synthetic crop protection products. By 2030, the initiative wants 80% of the funds to be abolished. A total ban then follows 5 years later. All this because European nature is in danger, according to the organization.
Perhaps special is that the citizens' initiative tries to adopt a very farmer-friendly attitude. It cites that EU farms are faced with unfair product prices. Political support is lacking and small farmers are burdened by large colleagues. The organization claims that between 2005 and 2016, 4 million small farms have closed. A goal of the organization is to restore ecosystems in agricultural areas, to save animal species and nature.
support farmers
According to the initiators, farmers should be supported in the transition to organic farming in 10 to 15 years' time. It advocates small scale, diversity and sustainability. Among other things, independent agricultural training should be set up for this.
By September 2020, the milestone of 1 million signatures must be reached. The European Parliament and the EC will then examine the issue. Friends of the Earth Europe and the Pesticide Action Network, among others, are parties that support Save Bees and Farmers.
Niels van der Boom
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