MEPs at odds with the public as poll shows huge majority against loosening pesticide rules

An overwhelming majority of Europeans oppose plans by EU lawmakers to weaken the regulation of pesticides or expand their use further, according to a new survey published on Thursday (5 November). A YouGov poll of more than 7,000 people across France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Romania and Spain found that support for unlimited pesticide approval stands at between four to six percent in France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Poland and Spain, and 10 percent in Romania. The poll was commissioned by Pan Europe, an environmental lobby group. Meanwhile, hefty majorities of between 68 percent (in Spain) and 80 percent in Romania say that pesticides should be phased out completely. The survey also found that opposition to increased pesticide use prevails across the political spectrum, with conservative and centre-right voters only marginally more in favour of deregulation on pesticides than greens and leftists. However, the survey findings are at odds with the direction of the “Food and Feed Safety” proposal tabled by the EU Commission last December and, in particular, of leading MEPs who want to deregulate more than the commission. The commission proposal would make unlimited approvals for pesticide active substances the norm, scrapping the regular safety reviews that have allowed 54 harmful substances to be banned since the EU pesticide regulation entered into force in 2011. Under the existing rules, pesticides are approved for a limited period and must be reassessed every 10 to 15 years. “The message is clear: unlimited pesticide approvals have no public support, not even from conservative and far-right voters. MEPs pushing to weaken pesticide safeguards are out of step with the people they represent”, said Salomé Roynel, policy officer at PAN Europe.