Availability of pesticides for minor uses and speciality crops a major concern
Following the great success of the 2009 conference, this year, on November 7, the agri-food chain representatives will bring together an even broader range of stakeholders to discuss minor uses and speciality crops, looking at ways to improve the availability of active substances for these products.
Minor uses* particularly applies to fruits and vegetables, cereals, seeds, flowers and plants that need a tailor made pesticide product for their protection, whether it is for growing them, storage or transportation. There is a foreseeable reduction in available solutions for their protection, posing difficulties for their cultivation.
Maintaining viable and permanent solutions for specialty crops and minor uses is key for their competitive and sustainable production, representing both an important part of the European agricultural economy and ensuring a varied, healthy and nutritious diet for all.
This event is designed to raise awareness of this major problem. It will provide a platform to share experiences among involved stakeholders and be an opportunity to exchange views aimed at establishing common goals shared by the food chain and regulators.
“This conference is a unique opportunity for the agri-food chain to align their efforts and to exchange views with the policymakers as there is an urgent need to introduce concrete solutions to ensure availability of pesticides for minor uses in the next European Commission’s report” said Luc Peeters, chairman of the phytosanitary group within COPA-COGECA and representing the ten agri-food chain associations.
--
* Minor use is defined under the Regulation 1107/2009 on the authorisation of plant protection products in article 3 as meaning the “use of a plant protection product in a particular Member State on plants or plant products which are: (a) not widely grown in that Member State, or (b) widely grown to meet an exceptional plant protection need”.
