PAN & Génération Futures Press Release: International Press Conference calling for an EU-wide non-agricultural pesticide ban

Brussels, Paris: Today, on the occasion of the international press conference in Paris hosted by Senator Joël Labbé marking the unanimous adoption of the European resolution to ban non-agricultural pesticides across Europe by the French Senate, Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Europe and Générations Futures warmly welcome the resolution and call on the Parliaments of other EU Member States to adopt similar resolutions.

The resolution demands the European Union to examine the extent to which European legislation could prohibit, firstly, the use pesticides by public bodies, and secondly, the sale of pesticides to private individuals. In France, pesticides are banned in all green public spaces since January 2017 with the exception of on railways, airports and roadways. The same law called "Labbé Law" will prohibit the use of pesticides in private gardens and selling of pesticides to non-professional users as of January 2019.

“Although this resolution is not a direct legislation, it clearly shows the intention of the French Senate to move further towards a pesticide free Europe. We enthusiastically welcome this initiative and call on the Parliaments of other EU Member States to adopt similar resolutions.” said Francois Veillerette, President of PAN Europe and Director of Générations Futures.

“While the European Commission and Member States keeps on dragging their feet in ensuring serious implementation of the EU laws on pesticides, a growing number regional politicians across Europe are taking actions:  France, Netherlands and Belgium are all in the process of making towns pesticide free, while some towns have gone even further and are now going for pesticide free not only in public areas but also in private areas. PAN Europe welcomes these initiatives, hoping that this will kick of real EU actions and this is why we give Mr Labbe sincere compliments for haven taking the idea of an EU Resolution as we hope this will finally ensure some proactive EU leadership pesticides” said Henriette Christensen, Senior Policy Adviser at PAN Europe.
ENDS
 
Contacts:  
Henriette Christensen, Senior Policy Officer, PAN Europe, Henriette@pan-europe.info, Tel: +32 2 318 62 55
Francois Veillerette, Director of Générations Futures and President of PAN Europe, francois@generations-futures.fr Tel: +33 681646558

Notes:
1.Proposition de résolution Européenne présentée en application de l'article 73 quinquies du Règlement, visant à limiter l'utilisation des produits phytosanitaires au sein de l'Union, http://www.senat.fr/leg/ppr16-477.html
2. with the exception of stadiums and cemeteries and as well as roadways for which non-use of these products could be proved to be dangerous

Note to editor: PAN Europe is a network of NGOs working to minimise negative effects and replace the use of hazardous chemicals with ecologically sound alternatives. We work to eliminate dependency on chemical pesticides and to support safe sustainable pest control methods. Our network brings together 34 consumer, public health, and environmental organisations, and women's groups from across Europe.