Fri Sep 20 09:13:28 UTC 2024: ## EU Parliament Rejects Pesticide Tolerances in Imported Food, Citing Health Concerns

**Brussels, [Date]** – The European Parliament today dealt a blow to the European Commission’s plans to allow higher residue levels of several banned pesticides in imported food products. In two separate votes, MEPs overwhelmingly rejected proposals that would have permitted trace amounts of cyproconazole, spirodiclofen, benomyl, carbendazim, and thiophanate-methyl in food items such as cereals, meat, citrus fruits, and okra.

These pesticides are all currently banned for use within the European Union. The Commission’s proposals aimed to establish “maximum residue levels” (MRLs) for these chemicals in imported products, allowing for their presence in imported food at levels higher than those permitted in EU-grown produce.

MEPs argued that allowing higher MRLs in imported food would create an uneven playing field for EU farmers and endanger the health of European citizens. They stressed that imported products should adhere to the same rigorous standards as those produced within the EU.

“We are not willing to accept lower standards for the food we consume, simply because it comes from outside the EU,” stated [Name of MEP], a key figure in the campaign against the proposals. “We must ensure that all food products, regardless of origin, meet the same high standards of safety and quality.”

The Parliament’s rejection was decisive, with over 500 MEPs voting in favor of rejecting both proposals. The Commission is now obligated to withdraw its proposals and re-evaluate its approach.

Parliament has called on the Commission to submit new proposals that lower all MRLs for these pesticides to the “limit of determination” – the lowest level at which they can be detected. Alternatively, they are urging the Commission to adopt a universal default value of 0.01 mg/kg for all uses of these pesticides.

This move marks a significant victory for those advocating for stricter food safety regulations and could set a precedent for future import regulations, ensuring a higher level of consumer protection across the EU.

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