Farm ministers agree pesticide use law position

European agriculture ministers agreed a joint governmental position on a new EU sustainable pesticide use law on Monday. Meeting in Brussels, the council of farm ministers backed European commission proposals tabled last year (EED 12/07/06) but shunned amendments from MEPs aimed at increasing the environmental effectiveness of the plans (EED 23/10/07). Ministers have apparently rejected MEPs demands for pesticide use reduction targets but approved a ban on aerial spraying and said authorities should be able to designate wide buffer zones around sensitive areas. See agriculture council minutes (pages 10-11).