Euro Coop supports a ban on plant protection products in Ecological Focus Areas

Euro Coop has submitted feedback to the European Commission on the draft delegated regulation on "Changes to greening rules and clarifications of certain other direct payments' rules". The amendment proposes to ban the use of plant protection products in Ecological Focus Areas. We has been calling for this for some time.

 

In 2014,  Euro Coop, along with 10 other signatories, co-signed a letter to Dacian Cioloş, then-Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development on the issue of the implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy and the enhancement of agro-ecological solutions.The letter specifically addressed the issue of banning synthetic pesticides and fertilisers on Ecological Focus Areas.

One of our core concerns as co-operative food retailers is food security. This is intrinsically dependent on biodiversity and properly functioning ecosystem services. Ecological Focus Areas were established “to safeguard and improve biodiversity on farms”. For farmland biodiversity in Europe to improve, we firmly believe that a ban on the use of plant protection products in Ecological Focus Areas is an absolute minimum.

 

Read our full statement as part of the public consultation.