The German Environment Agency believes that parts of the new fertilizer plans of the European Commission should be improved. For example, there should be more financial support for farms, paid from a EU-wide tax on pesticides.
According to a study by German environmental officials, adjustments are needed for the EU proposals to actually work. Germany is now going to introduce these conditions in the upcoming trilogue consultation of European decision-making.
The Environment Agency advocates introducing 'plant protection product-free' gebieden in the EU countries; about ten percent of the total area in eight years' time – without pesticides or set-aside – and without grassland.
In that case, the now-criticized requirement to reduce the use of chemicals could all but be dropped. However, in order to monitor the success, the EU Member States must establish such chemistry-free gebieden as part of their national action plans.
The German environmental officials also question the vague description of the area where chemicals may no longer be used at all. The Agriculture Ministers and the Agriculture Committee have already commented on this. The question is whether this total ban only applies to heavily frequented parks and public gardens, or also to natural areas with secondary agricultural use.
“The far-reaching restrictions on pesticides in many protected areas envisaged in the Commission's draft are necessary from a scientific point of view, but a successful transition will require a transition period,” it said.
In addition, German environmental officials – like several other EU countries – want a better and greater distinction between 'dangerous' chemicals and less vulnerable varieties. There is also a need for better zoning of gebieden species. It is said that the Commission proposal does not take sufficient account of risk differences for humans and the environment.
According to the report, support could be increased by sufficiently supporting farms. Member States should be obliged to adopt an appropriate financial budget in their annual budget, for example in the form of a state fund. The costs incurred could be refinanced through a EU-wide pesticide tax.