Pesticide changes could spell trouble (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Pesticide changes could spell trouble

10:40am Tuesday 21st October 2008 in

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FEARS are rising that farmers in the north west could be left unable to protect their crops due to a new proposal from Europe Parliament.

MEPs are looking at whether to adopt the 91/414 Thematic Strategy on Pesticides, but the National Farmers’ Union believes this could lead to 80 per cent of plant protection products being removed from the shelves.

Adam Bedford, the NFU’s north west crops adviser, said: “If these changes are approved it will have an effect on the horticulture and arable sectors and also has the potential to adversely affect the availability of straw and feed.

“Therefore it is vital North West farmers lobby MEPs on the European Parliament’s Environment Committee to vote against the changes.”