'EU pesticide proposals could do untold damage to local farmers` - Liz Lynne MEP

12.16.00pm GMT Tue 13th Jan 2009

Local Liberal Democrat MEP Liz Lynne, who is also Lib Dem European Agricultural Spokesperson for England and Wales, has today hit out at EU proposals that seek to ban a number of pesticide products that are vital to UK farming.

The proposals would ban various plant protection products that UK farmers use to prevent diseases.

Speaking from Strasbourg after the vote on the proposals today Liz said:

"We all agree that protecting the environment and ensuring that hazardous chemicals do not endanger either the population or local wildlife is of fundamental importance.

"However, adopting these badly drafted measures as they currently stand could damage both arable farming and the horticultural sector across the West Midlands and elsewhere.

"Unfortunately the legislation we have passed today was not subject to a proper impact assessment. If it had been I am sure it would have shown that in a number of cases it could lead to more damage to human health and not less.

"Certain pesticides are necessary to combat diseases associated with wet weather in the UK; and I don't believe that this has really been taken into account either.

"These proposals could have a severe impact on the price and availability of food."

ENDS