29 Amendments of Mairead McGUINNESS related to 2017/2284(INI)
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Expresses its satisfaction with the overall degree of progress shown by the Member States in implementing Directive 2009/128/EC; urges the Commission to promote the harmonisation of risk indicators at EU level and to oblige the Member States to provide more comprehensive information in their National Action Plans, which must be coherent and comparable, and include measurable and achievable goals and targets, and to collect more reliable data on the health and environmental impacts of exposure to pesticides;
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Underlines the importance of Directive 2009/128/EC in providing a framework for the safe and sustainable use of plant protection products (PPP); stresses that this framework provides for monitoring and measuring the use of PPPs, guidance on their safety, uses and storage, and training of users;
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Considers it essential to evaluate the implementation of this directive in conjunction with the EU’s overarching pesticide policy, including the rules laid down by Regulation (EU)1107/2009 (the Plant Protection Products Regulation), Regulation (EU) 528/2012 (the Biocides Regulation), Regulation (EC) 396/2005 (the Maximum Residue Level Regulation), and Regulation (EC) 178/2002 (the General Food Law);
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes that many Member States have changed their initial targets, focusing more on reducing the risks that pesticide use entailassociated with plant protection products, rather than on actual reductions in the quantities used; regrets the fact that in many Member States there is no realt sufficient commitment to integrated pest management (IPM) and thusto assist in developing a more environmentally- sustainable agriculture with lower costs forbenefits for the environment, consumers and farmers;
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the directive is one of the Union’s most valuable tools to ensure that the environment, ecosystems and human health are well protected from hazarddangerous substances in pesticides; whereas the failure to fully implemention of the directive makes it all but impossible to achieve the highest degree of protection and to transition towards a sustainable agricultural sector and non-toxic environmentcould be improved;
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the directive is one of the Union’s most valuable tools to ensure that the environment, ecosystemsanimal and human health are well protected from hazardous substances in pesticides; whereas the failure to fully implementation of the directive makes it all but impossible to achieve the highest degree of protection and tocould be improved to achieve the transition towards a sustainable agricultural sector and non- toxic environment;
Amendment 39 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Recalls that pesticidelant protection products are important tools for the agricultural sector, not least for reducing yield losses caused by pests, and thereforedisease, weeds and invasive alien species and by combatting pathogen resistance build-up; notes therefore that PPPs help to stabilise farmers’ incomes so that they can produce safely and at affordable prices; highlights the fact that EFSA’s latest report on pesticide residues in food showed that 97.2 % of samples throughout Europe were within the legal limits of EU legislation, which bears witness to a very rigorous and safe food production system;
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
B a. whereas it is important to promote the development of alternative procedures or techniques to reduce dependence on conventional pesticides and to deal with the rising threads of resistances to conventional plant protection products;
Amendment 49 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Welcomes that training and certification schemes on the use of PPPs have been established in all member states; acknowledges that approximately 4 million users have been trained to date but notes that due to data deficiencies there is a lack of information on the number of PPP users who have yet to receive training;
Amendment 50 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Considers that Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a cornerstone for this Directive and is important to reduce dependency on PPPs, representing a valuable tool for farmers to combat pests and disease and to ensure production yields; notes that a more intensive effort is needed to encourage the uptake of IPM through research and member states' advisory bodies; recalls that IPM is not a silver-bullet solution to combat all threats to plant health but can play a role in reducing the quantities and varieties of PPPs used;
Amendment 56 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Welcomes the fact that European waters are becoming cleaner and calls for greater investment in and adaption of practices that prevent pesticidagri-chemical substances from reaching surface and deep water;
Amendment 61 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. RegretNotes the fact that the overall degree of progress in implementation by the Member States is insufficientcould be improved to meet the directive’s main objectives and to unlock its full potential to reduce the overall risks deriving from pesticide use and achieve the environmental and health improvements the directive was specifically designed for;
Amendment 61 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Highlights the need to focus on precision and digital agriculture, so as to prevent the dispersion of pesticidelant protection products in areas where they are not needed, for example by means of drone and GPS precision technology; underlines the need for research into new low-risk substances and into the equipment and technology that could render them; recalls the European Parliament resolution of 15 February 2017 on low-risk pesticides of biological origin (2016/2903(RSP) and highlights their role in sustainable agriculture; considers that further investment and research into equipment and technology could play an important role in rendering PPPs more efficient and reduce the potential exposure of farmers, operators and the general public.
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Is concerned by the fact that the National Action Plans (NAPs) are notoriously inconsistent as regards the establishment of quantitative objectives, targets, measurements and timetables for the various action areas, making it impossible to assess the progress made; regrets the fact that just twoonly eleven Member States have produced a revised NAP to date, although the deadline for revision was at the end of 2017;
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Regrets the fact that in many Member States there is no real commitment to IPM practices, which are the cornerstone of the directive; underlines the fact that rigorousStresses the importance of commitment from Member States to apply integrated pest management; regrets that one of the main challenges regarding the implementation of the principles of IPM, which are the cornerstone of the directive, seems to be the current lack of appropriate control instruments and methods to assess compliance in the Member States as well as clear rules and guidance; recalls that while IPM techniques are sustainable from a long- term perspective, IPM can mean a higher economic risk in the short-term; underlines the fact that implementation of IPM is one of the key measures to reduce dependency on pesticide use in sustainable agriculture, which is environmentally friendly, economically viable and socially responsible and contributes to Europe’s food security while strengthening biodiversity and human and animal health, boosting the rural economy and reducing costs for farmers by facilitating the market uptake of low-risk and non-chemical alternatives; stresses that additional financial incentives are needed to strengthen the uptake of IPM practices by individual farms;
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Considers that IPM represents a valuable tool for farmers to combat pests and disease and to ensure production yields; notes that a more intensive effort is needed to encourage the uptake of IPM through research and Member States' advisory bodies; recalls that IPM is not a silver-bullet solution to combat all threats to plant health but can play an important role in reducing the quantities and varieties of pesticides used;
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Stresses the importance of the availability of low-risk pesticides, adequate research and the sharing of best practices within and among Member States to fully utilise the potential of integrated pest management.
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4 b. Acknowledges the willingness of farmers to use IPM, but understands that farmers are reluctant to apply new methods for pest management if they face an unacceptably high risk to their economic viability in case these methods do not work;
Amendment 103 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Is concerned that very little progress has been made in promoting the uptake of low-risk and non-chemicalby a lack of innovation and development of low-risk alternatives to conventional pesticides; notes that a mere handful of NAPs contain incentives for the registration of such alternative products;
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
Amendment 153 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Encourages more focus on risk reduction, as extensive use of low-risk substances might be more harmful than limited use of high-risk substances;
Amendment 155 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Regrets the fact that the improvement of water quality has been insufficiently targeted, with most Member States failing to establishWelcomes that Member States have taken a range of measures to protect the aquatic environment from pesticide use; regrets, however, that most Member States have not established quantitative targets and timetables for measures to protect the aquatic environment from pesticides, and those that did so have not specifyingied how the achievement of targets or objectives would be measured; also believes that the monitoring in the aquatic environment of currently used pesticides should be improved;
Amendment 157 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12 a. Regrets that in some Member States the training and certification requirements of the Directive are not fully met; underlines the importance of training of users to ensure the safe and sustainable use of PPPs; considers it fitting to distinguish between professional and amateur users, given that they are not subject to the same obligations; emphasises that professional and non- professional users of PPPs should receive adequate training; stresses that PPPs are not only used in agriculture, but also for weed and pest control in urban areas, including public parks and railways;
Amendment 159 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12 a. Highlights the need to focus on precision farming and digital agriculture, so as to prevent the dispersion of plant protection products in areas where they are not needed, for example by means of drone and GPS precision technology; considers that further investment and research into equipment and technology could play an important role in rendering plant protection products more efficient and reduce the potential exposure of professional users and the general public;
Amendment 164 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12 b. Highlights that sustainable and responsible use of pesticides is a precondition for the authorisation of plant protection products;
Amendment 181 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Calls on the Member States to adhere to the established timelines for delivering revised NAPs; urges those Member States that have not yet delivered revised NAPs to do so without further delay, this time with the clear overall objective of an immediate and long-term reduction in pesticide use, expressed either through a quantity- or risk-based approach, including clearly defined annual reduction targets and with special attention for the possible effects on pollinators and the uptake of alternative techniques in the agricultural sector;
Amendment 212 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to take all the requisite measures to promote low-risk pesticides and to prioritise non-chemical options and methods which cause the least harm to health and nature;
Amendment 236 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to place greater emphasis on the promotion of the development, research and marketing of low-risk biological alternatives;
Amendment 244 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)
Paragraph 19 b (new)
19 b. Calls on the Member States to ensure that professionally qualified and independent advisory services are available to provide advice on IPM to end- users;