Allister Speaks in Pesticide Debate
23 October 2007
Speaking in the debate in the European Parliament on the future control of pesticides within the EU, Jim Allister MEP quipped that a political pesticide to deal with the rampant weed that is EU regulation would do us all a favour. His point being that this revision seeks to impose further needless restraints, particularly in the UK where we already have a practicable and successful code of practice which ensures there is no excessive use of pesticides.
The proposal would, said Mr Allister, unnecessarily restrain agriculture, for example, by curbing the spraying of potato crops to control blight. The fruit and vegetable industry would be particularly hit, but also cereal growers.
In the course of his remarks Mr Allister said:-
"Here we go again in the EU with overkill, as some try to eliminate rather than reduce the use of pesticides. Without controlled use of pesticides in agriculture we will drive more food production to less regulated regions of the world, jeopardising quality and food safety. Perhaps of more interest to some, without fungicides and herbicides to protect and cure disease in fine turf, many golf and bowling surfaces would become weed infested and unplayable.
Yes, pesticides must be controlled, but our measures must be based on sound science and practical at farm and street level. The stringent codes of practice governing their use in my country are, I believe, adequate and therefore I will oppose dogma driven changes."
