Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 348: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of the farming community in relation to the proposed changes to European Directive 91/414; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17211/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The EU Commission has proposed a Thematic Strategy for the Sustainable Use of Pesticides. The Strategy includes a number of initiatives to reduce the impact of pesticides including a revised and extended Regulatory system for plant protection products.

Council Directive 91/414/EEC requires that all plant protection products be approved, following risk assessments, before being placed on the market. A Regulation revising the Directive was discussed at Coreper on 24th and 30th of April but no agreement was reached on a number of issues. Discussions on these issues were referred to the Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting of the 19th May 2008, with a view to achieving political agreement.

The main issues to be resolved relate to the replacement of risk assessment with hazard-based 'cut-off criteria', protection of proprietary rights to data, mutual recognition of authorizations and zonal authorizations. Chemical substances are classified and grouped in categories on the basis of the intrinsic properties, i.e. hazard. Risk assessment takes exposure to the hazard into account and estimates the risk to man, animals and the environment arising from the use.

I am seeking to ensure that the regulation will enshrine the principle of risk assessment in the approval of plant protection products while at the same time ensuring the protection of operators, consumers and the environment and maintaining the competitiveness of Irish and European agriculture.

Officials from my Department have been in regular contact with representatives of the various stakeholders and I have met with representatives from the IFA recently. Therefore, I am fully aware of the concerns of the farming community.