Over Three-hundred pesticides to be withdrawn

[Guest guest]

In Europe -- the protection of human health is taken

seriously. It is fascinating to see how the European Union

is taking strong actions based on the new scientific data

now available on the health effects of many pesticides.

Too bad the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is so

corrupted by political/corporate influences.

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http://www.edie.net/gf.cfm?L=left_frame.html & R=http://www.edie.net/news/Arch

ive/6328.cfm

Some 320 pesticides will be withdrawn from the European

market in July 2003 as part of the European Commission's

new approach to evaluating active ingredients in plant

protection products.

Users, wholesalers and retailers of plant products will need

to be aware of whether the products they use or sell are

likely to be withdrawn, warns the EU. Those concerned should

contact relevant authorities to check the status of any

particular product.

For substances remaining on the market, manufacturers must

prove their products reach the required safety standards,

submitting test data to the European Food Safety Authority

by May 2003. Some temporary exemptions will be granted for

substances with " essential uses " with no readily available

alternative and no concerns linked to their restricted use.

A further 150 substances could also be withdrawn in July 2003

if a second notification is adopted by the Commission. The

total removed will be more than 60% of all the substances

that were on the market in 1993. The Commission aims to have

ruled on all active pesticide substances by the end of 2008,

completing the harmonisation of Directive 91/414 on the

authorisation, use and control of plant protection products.