Von Martels: 'Mancozeb ban goes too fast'

To reinforce his demand, he points to the method used by the government when it comes to combating corona. “The advice from the RIVM is leading, so why not when it comes to the CBGT and EFSA advice (European version of the Dutch approval authority for crop protection products)? That is not consistent. It has always been the CDA's line to follow the advice of the established scientific institutes. You must have very good reasons to deviate from that advice.”

No parliamentary debate
Agriculture Minister Carola Schouten announced in a letter to Parliament last week that she would agree in Brussels this week to the European Commission's proposal not to renew the approval of the active substance mancozeb for combating the fungal disease phytopthora in potatoes. But there has been no debate in the standing parliamentary committee of LNV on this subject.

In the letter to Parliament, Schouten explains the Dutch positions on topics dealt with in the so-called Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed (SCoPAFF). This often concerns approvals or renewal of approvals of active substances. The relevant meetings are on Tuesday 18 and Wednesday 19 May.

Parkinson's disease
By the way, Von Martels is not necessarily against a ban on mancozeb. The CDA has certainly taken note of the supposed link between the use of mancozeb and Parkinson's disease. “We want crop protection across the board in the Netherlands by 2030 with (almost) no emissions and no residues, but the road to achieving this must not be frustrated. This does happen when substances are banned, there are no alternatives and no consideration is given to whether there are alternatives. Breeding is also not stimulated enough.”

Neonicotinoids
Von Martels cites the ban on neonicotinoids as an example of what not to do. “That ban has already led to the need to use more other crop protection products. So the ban is counterproductive.”