News Crop protection
Macron: One EU-wide PPP policy required
If it is up to French President Emmanuel Macron, there will be one policy on plant protection products in the EU. "It cannot be the case that substances that are prohibited in our country may simply be used by neighboring countries." It is one of the strategic points in Macron's policy, which should put the farmer at the center, he says.
In early February, hundreds of French farmers took to the streets after known It was found that the French government had wrongly granted a derogation for the use of neonicotinoids in sugar beet seed coating. The European Court of Justice put a stop to its use. It was the straw that broke the camel's back for many farmers regarding the use of plant protection products.
Pro-farmer wind
In France, a rather pro-farming wind has been blowing in politics for several years now. That is somewhat exceptional in Northern Europe, especially given the new CAP. During the French agricultural fair Salon de l'Agriculture, President Macron spoke strongly about the policy with regard to plant protection products. "Why do our farmers have to comply with rules that are not respected in other countries?" he said. "We advocate one harmonized system at a European level." He calls the neonics ban 'taken much too abruptly'.
Another active substance that was recently killed is S-metolachlor. The agent is the active substance of, among other things, the herbicide Dual Gold. In the Netherlands, its use has been limited since 2019 on sandy soil and in water protection areas.
New policy
French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne is visiting the international agricultural exhibition today. She will probably tell more about the policy that should focus on the farmer. "Our farmers must be visible and the European calendar must be in line with the French calendar," Macron said. He underlined that the government is accommodating affected farmers who are disadvantaged by an increasingly strict resource policy. If it is up to the president, no products cross the French borders that do not meet production standards. As an example he mentioned sugar from Brazil.
At the same time, Macron's government wants to work on reducing the use of synthetic plant protection products. The Ecophyto program was set up for this purpose. Green resources must take over the role of existing resources. 2025 is still held as the deadline for halving substance use. Three years ago, the government made €400 million available for this purpose.
Niels van der Boom
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