Environmental organisations call Flanders' pesticide plan 'fundamentally' inadequate
Several environmental organisations have criticised the recently approved Flemish action plan for pesticides and are calling for significant revisions to the plan.
Bond Beter Leefmilieu, PAN Europe, Velt, Dryade and the West Flemish Environmental Federation called the action plan for pesticides "fundamentally" inadequate.
"While pesticides are harmful to biodiversity and public health, there is a lack of effective measures," they said in a press release. "The precautionary principle, European guidelines and scientific recommendations are being ignored."
The organisations argue that the plan fails to provide sufficient protection. For instance, proposed buffer zones around schools, healthcare facilities and waterways are deemed too small. They also say that vulnerable natural areas receive minimal protection and the plan offers "no guarantee whatsoever of reducing the impact of pesticides, let alone reducing their use".
"We are watching our biodiversity collapse without taking action"
"The plan does not address the harmful impacts and social costs caused by pesticide use and remains stuck in a few symbolic measures," they say. "The time for non-commitment must end. Health costs are rising and we are watching our biodiversity collapse without taking action."
Last week, Boerenbond, the union representing the agriculture sector in Flanders and East Belgium, criticised the action plan. “In recent years, agriculture has taken significant steps to reduce pesticide use," they said. "Furthermore, pesticides are only used when necessary and in a responsible way."
They say that crop protection products have passed strict European and Belgian approval procedures.
In recent years, pesticide use has slowly increased in Flanders, with the Flemish authorities reporting 2.2 tonnes of pesticide use in 2022 compared to 1.9 tonnes in 2021.
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