AIC champions for more certainty following PPP regulatory decision
AIC supported an appeal in the European General Court this week, which challenged the verdict on the Commission’s decision to withdraw three neonicotinoid insecticides, clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam in 2013.
The trade association argued that the Commission did not follow the legal procedure for withdrawal of active substances and that the impact of the withdrawals was not assessed, nor a cost/benefit analysis undertaken by the Commission. With no certainty regarding whether other active substances could be withdrawn in the same way in the future, agronomists, seed businesses, farmers and growers would be unable to plan for their business needs effectively.
The Commission’s decision to withdraw the three insecticides was challenged by Bayer and Syngenta in 2017, on the basis that there was insufficient evidence of any serious risk to bee health posed by the actives, the use of unadopted risk assessment guidance in the decision-making process, and taking disproportionate action in light of the perceived risk identified.
AIC acted as an intervenor in the case, as the withdrawal of the three insecticides was calculated to be very problematic for UK farmers and growers and, therefore, AIC Members.
Nevertheless, the EU Court ruled in favour of the Commission and confirmed that the Ruling on the three actives was valid.
Bayer subsequently launched an appeal against the verdict. As an intervenor in the original case, AIC supported the Bayer appeal due to the negative impacts on oilseed rape crops due to the loss of neonicotinoid seed treatments.
A decision on the hearing is expected in September.
“AIC Members took the decision to intervene and support the challenge to this verdict,” says Hazel Doonan, Head of Agronomy and Crop Protection Sector at AIC. “The implications of this decision could have far-reaching effects on the regulation of plant protection products (PPPs) more generally within the EU and the UK following the UK’s exit from the EU.”
ENDS
About AIC
As the UK agricultural supply industry's leading trade association, the Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC) represents businesses in key sectors within the supply chains that feed the nation.
Its Member businesses supply UK farmers and growers with the animal feed, fertiliser, seed, crop protection products, trusted advice and quality services that are essential to producing food, as well as trading crops and commodities across the globe.
Formed in October 2003 by a merger of three trade associations, today AIC has over 230 Members in the agri-supply trade and represents £17.8 billion* turnover at farmgate.
AIC works on behalf of its Members by lobbying policymakers and stakeholders, delivering information, providing trade assurance schemes, and offering technical support.
AIC Services manages a range of services, including Trade Assurance Schemes and professional registers recognised by the UK Government as essential means to underpin feed and food safety alongside fertiliser security.
These schemes and professional registers include:
- Trade Assurance Scheme for Combinable Crops (TASCC)
- Feed Materials Assurance Scheme (FEMAS)
- Universal Feed Assurance Scheme (UFAS)
- European Seed Treatment Assurance (ESTA)
- Fertiliser Industry Assurance Scheme (FIAS)
- Feed Adviser Register (FAR)
- Renewable Energy Directive (RED)
- Forage Assurance Scheme (FAA)
- AIC Services Palm Oil Credit Scheme (APOCS)
*According to a 2023 survey of AIC Members.
Press Contact
Wendy Ford, Communications Manager, AIC
+44 (0)1733 385230
[email protected]
