Updates on pesticides and recycled nutrients: Regulation (SUR), statistics and data

Sustainable Use of Pesticide Regulation (SUR): Proposal welcome but flawed indicators

IFOAM Organics Europe welcomed the Commission’s proposal on the revision of the Sustainable Use of pesticides Regulation (SUR). It could be a key instrument to reduce the impact of pesticides on human health and the environment, fulfilling the ambition of the Farm to Fork strategy, and especially to reach its targets on pesticide reduction. However, we regret that the Commission proposed to use the Harmonized Risk Indicators as they are not able to properly assess the use and risk of the plant protection product used (Read our press release for more information). We also requested a better definition of chemical plant protection products to differentiate the synthetic products from the natural substances.

Members can access our feedback and suggestions for amendments of the proposal on our member extranet.

What comes up on the SUR and pesticides?

The next step in the approval of this proposed regulation (the so-called co-decision procedure) is that the European Parliament examines the Commission’s proposal. This is why we started advocating the European Parliament. Austrian Green Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Sarah Wiener is expected to deliver the Parliament’s Environment Committee’s report this autumn.

Members can have access to our suggestions of amendments on our member extranet.

In October, environmental NGOs including Corporate Europe Observatory and Pesticide Action Network Europe are organising the Pesticide Action Month celebrating the 60^th anniversary of Rachel Carson’s iconic  ‘A silent spring’. Check out the full programme.

The Integrated Nutrients Management Action Plan (INMAP)

In August, we submitted feedback to the European Commission’s public consultation on INMAP which aims at suggesting ideas for the Action Plan that the Commission (DG Environment) will publish this autumn.

With the support of our new Task Force on Recycled Fertilizers, we suggested to put organic farming at the heart of the INMAP to achieve the Farm to Fork Strategy’s target of 25% organic farmland by 2030. We also suggested to ensure a separate collection of waste and provide a certified production process as possible options to facilitate the adoption of recycled fertilisers in the organic sector. We also believe more natural fertilizers should be authorised. Our entire feedback is available to our members on our member extranet.

Our action on the new Regulation on agricultural input and output statistics (SAIO)

In June, the Council and the Parliament reached an agreement on the new Regulation on Statistics on Agricultural Inputs and Outputs (SAIO), which could lead to much improved pesticide use data.

On 11 July, IFOAM Organics Europe and 57 other NGOs signed an open letter calling on Member States and the Commission to adopt, without delay and by the end of 2022, the Implementing Regulation harmonizing the content and format of the pesticide use records. We addressed this letter to the Members of Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed (PAFF Committee).

Organic movement’s feedback on the Farm Sustainability Data Framework (FSDN)

We also provided feedback to the European Commission’s  public consultation commenting on its proposal on the new Farm Sustainability Data Framework (replacing the Farm Accountability Data Framework or FADN).

We suggested that economic data collected at farm-level needs to be completed with data on the environmental and social components of farms, whether for policy monitoring and evaluation or for research. Such holistic approach will help understand the economic, social and environmental impacts of agricultural practices, and to identify which of these practices should be supported to achieve the targets set by the Farm to Fork and Biodiversity strategies.

Our feedback is available for our members on our extranet.

Need more info?

Please contact [email protected] for questions on pesticides and fertilizers.

IFOAM Organics Europe members can find more information on the member extranet and background materials in the arguments database on the member extranet (main messages, arguments/FAQs, visuals & videos). Contact [email protected] for access rights (issues). Do note that we prioritise our members’ requests. For information about what you can gain from being a member, read our membership page and contact [email protected].