Today, Members of the European Parliament rejected the Sustainable Use of Pesticide Regulation (SUR). Despairingly, MEPs fell for the misleading and deceptive information spewed out through a massive lobbying campaign from pesticide corporations. This piece of legislation, which is an essential part of the European Green Deal and the “Farm to Fork” strategy, was supposed to tackle the biodiversity crisis by halving pesticide use by 2030. Instead, a majority of Members of the European Parliament voted to reject the proposal and will continue to poison citizens and nature.

The rejection of the law, orchestrated by conservative parties and supported by the far right, and many liberals, nail in the coffin of attempts to restore our relationship with nature and be able to produce food in the long run. By supporting the position of powerful agriculture lobby groups, MEPs who are supposed to represent EU citizens, did the exact opposite. They ignored the demands of over 1 million worried citizens.

Marilda Dhaskali, Agriculture Policy Officer at BirdLife Europe:
“EU politicians have chosen a path that promises a grim and challenging future for both us and our children. Supporting a farming system that contaminates our environment with toxic compounds, jeopardizing our health, is an unsustainable choice. Despite the clear detriment to citizens, and all the science calling for a pesticide free Europe, our representatives have opted to uphold this disastrous system.”

In January or February 2024, Member States are expected to take a “general approach” to the law. The Parliament will have to vote on the Council’s position. However, the proposal of the Commission has been met by much apprehension by the Council and negotiations are challenging.