The EU’s farmers and chemical producers must replace 22 highly toxic products with alternatives over the next decade, under new legally-binding rules on pesticides.

While a Green member of the European Parliament which voted the laws in called the decision a milestone for consumer protection in Europe, other environmentalists, in contrast, said that “banning 22 harmful substances out of over 400 is barely a start”. A critic from Greenpeace said this meant food in Europe would be contaminated by dangerous chemicals for years to come. Research data conclude that a quarter of all the fresh fruit, vegetables and cereals reaching consumers in the EU contains at least two pesticides. Studies say food crops in the EU are treated with 140,000 tonnes of pesticides each year.More about: Agriculture, European Union, Health

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