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European Union

Labour's EU Deal Threatens UK Harvests, Farmers Say

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Britain's farmers face losing entire harvests due to Labour's commitment to follow European Union laws on pesticides. Crucial agricultural chemicals will be banned, leading to significant falls in food production and further eroding the already tight profit margins of family farmers. Growers are warning that removing these chemicals could have devastating consequences, particularly for potato crops, which were severely affected by last year's wet winter.

Key Takeaways:

  • Almost 30 widely used pesticides and fungicides will be banned in the UK due to Labour's deal with the EU.
  • The move could lead to significant falls in food production, further eroding the already tight profit margins of family farmers.
  • Growers are warning that removing these chemicals could have devastating consequences for crops such as potatoes, which were severely affected by last year's wet winter.
  • The UK will have to ban the chemicals because previous Tory governments took a lighter touch approach to regulation than the EU after Brexit.
  • A paper setting out the "common understanding" of the pact states that the UK will align its pesticide regulations with EU rules, which may lead to the banning of certain products.
  • Britain will have the option to negotiate "limited exceptions" to following EU regulations, but these exemptions must respect EU standards.
  • Environmental groups welcomed the move as a "massive win for human health, nature and British farmers" and described the pesticides as "harmful".
  • The UK's pesticide approach has been criticized for being too science-led, while the EU's approach is often based on emotion and green lobbying.
  • Hazel Doonan, the head of crop protection and agronomy at the Agricultural Industries Confederation, warned that the UK may have to apply EU conditions on products that are authorised for use.
  • Josie Cohen from the Pesticide Action Network highlighted that 28 products banned in the EU are actively marketed in Britain and that lost active substances could mean very few alternatives for growers.
  • A Government spokesman said the new EU agreement will give ministers input into EU policy making, but detailed negotiations with the EU are still ongoing.

Statistics:

  • 28 existing and new products banned by the EU that are still available in the UK.
  • 4 new active substances (2 herbicides and 2 fungicides) that have come onto the market in Britain but are still awaiting approval in the EU.
  • 15 out of 28 banned pesticides that are actively marketed in Britain.
  • Last year's wet winter saw a severe potato crop failure, which was exacerbated by the lack of treatment for potato blight.

Sources:

  • Christophe Hansen, EU Agriculture Commissioner
  • Hazel Doonan, Head of Crop Protection and Agronomy at the Agricultural Industries Confederation
  • Josie Cohen, Pesticide Action Network
  • Olly Harrison, Cereal Farmer in the North West
  • James Wright, Farmer from Exmoor and former Tory candidate
  • Downing Street Government Spokesman
  • Pesticide Action Network

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