FRANCE IMPLEMENTS PROTECTING RESIDENTS AND VULENARBLE PEOPLE AND WATER POINTS

USPA NEWS - By decision of June 26, 2019, the Council of State partially canceled yesterday the decree of May 4, 2017 which governs the use of phytosanitary products, on the ground that this decree does not include provisions concerning the protection of local residents, whereas this is provided for by European regulations. It urges the Government to take appropriate regulatory measures within six months. The Government takes note of this decision. It recalls that Article 83 of the EGAlim law of October 30, 2018 provides for the establishment of commitment charters by users of phytosanitary products, developed in each department in consultation with residents or their representatives, to clarify and strengthen the protective measures to be put in place. The implementation of this article is the subject of a working group, which involves all stakeholders. At the meeting of this working group held on June 27th, the Government presented its proposals submitted to the consultation on the modalities of elaboration of the departmental charters and the reference frame to be respected, concerning the good practices of spreading close to homes. T

The Government takes note of this decision. It recalls that Article 83 of the EGAlim law of October 30, 2018 provides for the establishment of commitment charters by users of phytosanitary products, developed in each department in consultation with residents or their representatives, to clarify and strengthen the protective measures to be put in place. The implementation of this article is the subject of a working group, which involves all stakeholders. At the meeting of this working group held on June 27th, the Government presented its proposals submitted to the consultation on the modalities of elaboration of the departmental charters and the reference frame to be respected, concerning the good practices of spreading close to homes. These good practices include the minimum distances to be respected (no treatment zones), the spreading equipment and the prior information of residents before spreading. These elements are subject to stakeholder consultation and will be the subject of wider public consultation in the coming weeks, before that of the European Commission.---------------------------------------- The changes proposed by the Government are based on three reports commissioned by the Minister of Ecological and Solidarity Transition, the Minister of Solidarity and Health and the Minister of Agriculture and Food under the Action Plan. ministerial meeting on plant protection products and a less pesticide-dependent agriculture of 25 April 2018. These reports are published today: The first report entitled "Protection of water points, evaluation of the implementation of the decree of May 4, 2017" draws up a balance sheet of the prefectural decrees taken in application of this interministerial decree, which list in particular the watercourses concerned. by protective measures.------------------------------------------------------------------- The second report entitled "Evaluation of the system regulating the use of plant protection products close to places hosting vulnerable people" assessed the prefectural provisions adopted pursuant to Article L.253-7-1 of the Rural Code and Fisheries to protect places where vulnerable people live (schools, nurseries, hospitals, health centers, retirement homes, etc.). At the request of the ministries, the mission also made recommendations on the protection of people living near treated areas. Lastly, ANSES publishes today on its website an opinion also on measures for the protection of local residents during the use of phytosanitary products, which serves as a basis for the Government's proposals.---------------------------------------------------- The Government reiterates its commitment to the quality of the dialogue between stakeholders, including agricultural professionals and environmental protection associations, as highlighted during the debates of the EGAlim Act, and its desire to take measures in favor of the protection of the necessary and proportionate populations. Source : Ministries of Health, Agriculture, Energy Ecology, Council fo State