§ Mr. OatenTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which discussions he has had with his counterparts in other EU member states on establishing reciprocal recognition arrangements on the use of pesticides and fertilisers. [127663]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 26 June 2000]: All EU countries regulate the safety and efficacy of agricultural pesticides on the basis of scientific data under their respective national legislation. However, a gradual transition is already underway to an EC system of regulation which in addition to safeguarding people and the environment is also aimed at freeing the market in agricultural pesticides by achieving consistent standards between member states.
As such it provides for the mutual recognition of pesticide product approvals and uses granted in other member states.
Officials from the various member states are frequently in contact with each other to discuss the issues relating to harmonisation of the authorisation procedures and the regulation of agricultural pesticides.
The EU has established procedures whereby fertiliser companies can seek to have products designated as "EC Fertilisers" thereby enabling those products to be sold in all member states. Non-EC designated fertiliser products may be sold to another member state only where they comply with that country's domestic legislation.