Farmers defend pesticides in face of rising food prices

EurActiv, April 28, 2008

Agricultural scientists have called for a wide array of pesticides to be maintained, saying fewer of them will lead to more resistant pests. The move follows a vote by the European Parliament last year to ban more chemical substances in the products. In October last year, the European Parliament voted to extend a proposed list of substances to be banned from use in EU pesticide production (EurActiv 24/10/07), including substances that cause cancer, disrupt the endocrine system of humans or are harmful to reproductive health. It was expanded by Parliament to include those that are potentially toxic to the immune system (immunotoxic) or the nervous system (neurotoxic). Read more...