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Pesticide Availability in Horticulture
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A “Pesticide Conference for Horticulture”, sponsored by the Horticultural Development Company (HDC) and the National Farmers Union (NFU) was held at Stockbridge Technology Centre (STC) in Yorkshire on the 7-8th October 2008. A broad range of speakers from PSD, COPA-COGECA, Sainsbury, STC, HDC, NFU and industry consultants presented an update and outlined the potential implications of EU legislation on Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) and future crop protection product availability in the EU. Graham Ward OBE, STC CEO, welcomed delegates to the meeting and outlined the objectives for this 2 day event. Day 1 focused on Directive 396/2005 which came into force on 1 September 2008; the aim being to harmonise MRLs across the EU community. Russell Wedgbury, PSD kicked off with a comprehensive overview of the complex legislation surrounding MRLs and Viv Powell, HDC followed by looking at the potential implications of the new regulations for UK horticulture. After a brief comfort break, delegates then heard from Helen Kyle, PSD secretariat to the Pesticide Residues Committee about how the committee worked and how they would be interpreting and reporting residue results as a result of the changed legislation. Finally, Debbie Winstanley, Sainsbury provided a retailer perspective on how they would be dealing with any MRL exceedances, including imports from outside the EU. On Day 2 attention switched to the growing concern about the replacement Directive for 91/414/EC and the impending Parliamentary decision-making process. Rob Mason, PSD provided a clear review of the Commission and Parliamentary proposals and estimated timetable for their introduction and this set the scene for a particularly interesting day. Luc Peeters from the COPA-COGECA Phytosanitary working group, Belgium was invited to provide a review of the current position from a European perspective. Rather than focus on his formal presentation, Luc opted instead to focus on the political manoeuvring and gave the audience an excellent insight into what really drives the decision-making process in the EU. It stirred one of the delegates to comment afterwards:- “…Just wanted to say thanks for an extremely interesting conference this week. Excellent speakers and fantastic hospitality. I was inspired to get involved in not just the practicalities but also the politics of pesticide legislation…” David Richardson, PSD then presented an overview of what has proved to be a controversial ‘Impact Assessment’ on the proposed replacement Directive and this created a lot of interest and questions. Cathy Knott and Martin McPherson then focused in on the potential impact on the horticultural sector highlighting the potentially critical areas in the different commodities and emphasising the importance of diverse modes of action from a resistance management perspective. In the afternoon session Sarah Pettitt, NFU had a ‘call to arms’ to stir up action by growers and other interested parties and to encourage them to write to their MEPs expressing their views about the impending legislation and its impact on their businesses. Finally, Neil Bragg, HDC Chairman outlined his plans for HDC and how it could respond to the changing legislative and funding environment in the UK. The Conference was extremely well attended by growers, consultants, representatives of the crop protection industry and the press with some 110-120 delegates attending on each day. STC would like to thank both the HDC and NFU for their generous sponsorship of this event, to Hilary Finney of Food Solutions for supplying the excellent locally sourced luncheon menu, to John Richardson and Ian Nelson of Johnsons of Whixley for the loan of plant material for the event and finally for all the delegates who took time out from their busy schedules to attend the event. Anyone requiring further information should contact Dr McPherson at STC (martin.mcpherson@stc-nyorks.co.uk). Presentations: Letters sent to MEPs |
