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The proceedings of the 20 November 2003 conference entitled “Reducing pesticide dependency in Europe to protect health, environment and biodiversity” organised in Copenhagen by Pesticides Action Network (PAN) Europe is now available. The Conference stressed the need to consider new scientific findings showing more serious effects from pesticides than expected, as well as gaps in current knowledge and, consequently, to reconsider the case for precautionary reduction of pesticide use and exposure at European Union and national levels. The conference attracted 66 participants from regulatory and other government agencies (27 officials), research, farmer organisations, private sector companies including water companies and NGOs from 18 EU and Accession countries.
These proceedings highlight:
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new evidence on pesticide problems for health, the environment and biodiversity,
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the rationale for pesticide use reduction at European Union and national levels, under the precautionary principle,
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ways for measuring pesticide use reduction, data requirements and availability,
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integrated crop management (ICM), integrated farming systems (IF) and achievements in pesticide use reduction as well as environmental and economic impact of those systems,
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practical steps towards pesticide use reduction at EU and national levels as well as at retailers’ and farmers’ initiative.
The “Pesticide use reduction is working” report describes (i) current use and risk reduction strategies and measures in four European countries implementing a national pesticide reduction programme, (ii) pesticide reduction achievements, (iii) factors contributing to success or difficulty in implementation, (iv) indicators used to measure reduction targets, their advantages and limitations.
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