European Parliament bans 22 toxic substances

The European Parliament (EU) has adopted legislation that bans the use of 22 toxic substances, including carcinogenic, reprotoxic, genotoxic, endocrine-disrupting and immunotoxic chemicals.

The ban has been put forward to help stop the continuous environmental damage and health risks that certain chemicals inflict.

The Biological Farmers of Australia (BFA) says that the ban is a rewarding development; organic farming has a well-established record of high quality and increasingly high yielding food production yet does not allow the use of harmful chemicals.

“BFA would further support any prohibition of potentially toxic farm chemicals on Australian shores,” said Holly Vyner, BFA manager.

Jo Immig, the Coordinator and President of the National Toxics Network, says that the stand taken by the EU in relation to removing dangerous pesticides is to be applauded.

“Finally, governments are beginning to understand that the widespread use of toxic pesticides is having serious impacts on public health and the environment," Immig said.

“Thankfully, organic farmers all over the world have shown that abundant food can be produced without the use of toxic pesticides, which is a win for the farmer, the community and the environment."

Shane Heaton, BFA Nutrition Spokesperson, says that banning the use of the harmful pesticides should result in a beneficial impact on human health.

“Many pesticides have been linked to various cancers, with pesticide residues being known to seep into groundwater and people living around these waterways suffering greater degrees of cancer," Heaton said.

“Choosing organic food gives consumers the benefit of having chemical-free food, whilst providing public health and occupation benefits to farms."