HC Deb 29 July 1988 vol 138 cc670-1W
Mr. Leighton

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals have been made by the EEC Commission for the harmonisation of national laws on pesticides, insecticides, fertiliser and organic farming; what is the current position of each proposal in relation to EEC Council approval; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Donald Thompson

As regards EC pesticides (including insecticides), the EC Commission put forward a draft directive harmonising aspects of national laws on the approval of "plant protection products" in 1976. No progress has been made on this text since 1983, and the Commission is understood to be preparing a revised text for discussion.

I am aware that the Commission is working on a draft proposal on the production and marketing of agricultural products and foodstuffs obtained without the use of synthetic chemicals, but as no proposals have been published I cannot comment any further.

Council directive 76/116 published in 1975 sets certain standards on labelling and composition of some inorganic fertilisers traded between member states. Proposals by the EC Commission to extend these harmonisation measures have included a recent new directive on fluid fertilisers agreed by the Council, and a further proposal for one on secondary nutrients is currently under consideration by the Council.

Back to
Forward to