ECPA defends agchem use in grapes

The European Crop Protection Association (ECPA) has defended the use of pesticides in grapevines following claims by an environmentalist group that wine may contain residues of a "large number" of pesticides. Pesticides Action Network (PAN) Europe, together with NGOs from Austria, France and Germany, tested 40 bottles of wine purchased in the EU.

The study found that all of the 34 conventionally produced wines tested contained residues of over four different pesticides on average, with one bottle containing residues from ten pesticides. The most commonly found pesticides were the fungicides, pyrimethanil, cyprodinil, dimethomorph and procymidone. Of the six organic wines tested, one contained residues of pyrimethanil. "The presence of pesticides in European wines is a growing problem," says Elliott Cannell of PAN Europe.

The ECPA points out that the pesticides detected are all authorised for use in the EU, and that the residues were found in "minute quantities that are not even remotely close to any level of concern". "Unfortunately, the report did not address any testing on pesticides used in organic vinification, such as copper and sulfur; such information would have provided a more complete picture of the situation," says ECPA director-general Dr Friedhelm Schmider. "Growers need to protect their vineyards from pests and disease - particularly with the anticipated impacts of climate change," he adds. National residue monitoring programmes show that only a tiny percentage of wine grapes exceed maximum residue limits and virtually no residues are left in the final product, Dr Schmider notes.

PAN Europe unveiled the study results at the European Parliament in March. The NGOs are calling on EU politicians to eliminate hazardous pesticides in the food chain by endorsing the use of hazard-based criteria in pesticide assessment. Such criteria are being considered by the European Commission in its proposals to amend the EU agrochemical registration Directive (91/414).