France takes steps to cut ais
Date:02-17-2008
The French Ministry of Agriculture has taken another step towards significantly cutting the number of pesticides for use or marketing by 2010. The Minister of Agriculture, Michel Barnier, has set up a committee to investigate ways to do so and assess the country's progress in phasing out available active ingredients. The move follows repeated calls in France to cut pesticide use by environmental groups as well as a government proposal to halve the number of ais for sale by 2009 .
The reduction of pesticide use is an "essential" aspect of sustainable agriculture, says the Ministry. The government's environmental initiative, the Grenelle de l'Environment, collaborated with farmers, who are "the first to be exposed to the risks posed by the application of pesticides", to form a consensus on the need to reduce the their use. Mr Barnier will establish a plan for the phasing out of pesticides beginning this year. The plan covers two phases: the removal of the 53 "most dangerous" ais by the end of 2008; and halving the use of pesticides sold as soon as possible and within ten years.
To meet the targets and timeline, Mr Barnier has appointed Guy Paillotin, long-time secretary of the French Academy of Agriculture, to set up a committee of experts. This group will be charged with formulating concrete proposals to take action on: defining clearly what is meant by "50% reduction" of pesticide use; evaluating progress on new ais and agronomic techniques; mobilising research and development to find alternative methods and efficient systems for pesticide use; training farmers on pesticide use and professionals on distributing and advising on pesticides through a system of certification; and reinforcing surveillance networks on environmental damage and against the unintentional negative side-effects of pesticide use to make these transparent and well known.
The decision to cut pesticide sales was taken in collaboration with the relevant stakeholders, including farmers and other pesticide users. The committee will meet every three months under the leadership of Mr Barnier to validate the plan's progress.
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