Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 127: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the consequences of imminent EU legislative proposals to restrict the availability of chemical pesticides and fungicides; the steps being taken to protect the Irish tillage sector in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19596/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Commission has proposed a Thematic Strategy for the Sustainable Use of Pesticides. The Strategy includes a number of initiatives designed to reduce the negative impacts associated with use of chemical pesticides. Firstly, the Commission has proposed a framework Directive on the sustainable use of pesticides, the aim of which is to reduce the risks and impacts of pesticide use on human health and the environment. The current proposal was addressed at yesterday's meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council and contains provisions such as operator and advisor training, inspection of application equipment and national action plans and seeks to ensure that pesticides are used safely. Accordingly Ireland endorsed the current text which was adopted by the Council.

In addition the Commission has proposed a new Regulation concerning the placing on the market of plant protection products. This proposal is designed to replace Council Directive 91/414/EEC (the current legislative instrument in place). The proposal contains many novel provisions which are acceptable, including the regulation of parallel trade and simplified provisions for data protection. However, it also includes a provision for 'hazard-based cut-off criteria' as a mechanism for making decisions relating to the approval of fungicides, herbicides and insecticides. If unchanged, this provision could result in a significant reduction of the number of substances available for plant protection in Europe. At yesterday`s Council meeting in Brussels Ministers failed to reach agreement on this dossier because of continuing differences between Member States on elements of the proposal. In these circumstances the Presidency undertook to "take stock" of the position and reflect further on the outcome of the meeting.