91997E4066

WRITTEN QUESTION P-4066/97 by Nel van Dijk (V) to the Commission (15 December 1997)

Subject: Poison spray used on people

In the village of Orgiva in the province of Granada in the south of Spain, olive-tree plantations are being sprayed from aircraft with pesticides. The pesticide concerned is the phosphoric acid ester dimethoate.

Is the use of this phosphoric acid ester permitted under European legislation? Is it in accordance with the code of good agricultural practice to spray this agent from an aircraft not only onto olive trees but also onto the people of the village of Orgiva - men, women, children and infants - as well as any tourists incidentally present? What action will the European Commission take to put a stop to abuses of this kind?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (2 February 1998)

Dimethoate is an insecticidal active substance which was authorized for use in plant protection products in most Member States before the implementation date (25 July 1993) of Directive 91/414/EEC of 15 July 1991 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market ((OJ L 230, 19.8.1991. )), and therefore can continue to be authorized by Member States in accordance with the provisions of Article 8(3) and (4) of that Directive.

Directive 91/414/EEC provides that, in granting the authorization for such a plant protection product, the Member State must have established that the product, having regard to all normal conditions under which it may be used, has no harmful effect on human or animal health, directly or indirectly. Moreover, this Directive provides, in Article 3, that plant protection products must be used properly. Proper use includes compliance with the above mentioned safety conditions of use and also with the application of the principles of good plant protection practice.

The facts mentioned by the Honourable Member seem to indicate a practice which is not in accordance with the above mentioned provisions. The Commission will ask further information of the Spanish authorities on these facts as well as on the measures taken to ensure that the above mentioned provisions are adequately in case of spraying from aircraft.