Collegium Ramazzini calls for no pesticides of toxic potential in EU

Current EU laws allow pesticides to be used on our food products despite growing evidence that these chemicals harm human health. Many permissible pesticides are known to be carcinogenic, mutagenic or to have toxic reproductive effects (called CMRs). The current levels of excessive use of pesticides contaminate our food, our land and our bodies. Vulnerable groups, such as women and children, run a higher risk of experiencing the negative consequences of these toxic substances.

The Collegium Ramazzini (CR), an international academy of over 180 experts in environmental sciences and occupational health, has released a Statement on the Control of Pesticides in the European Union . In this Statement, the CR calls for strict cut-off criteria that would ensure no CMRs (levels 1-3) are permitted for use, in addition to other pesticides known to be endocrine disrupters or to have neuron- or immunotoxicity. Instead, the CR supports alternative, non-chemical pest management methods. Because pesticides can be widely dispersed in our environment, the CR supports a pesticide ban in public areas and application through aerial spraying. EU legislation needs to keep place with ongoing scientific discovery and respond to with effective laws to safeguard the health of our society.

Link to the Statement on the Control of Pesticides in the European Union

More information on pesticides and health from the HEAL website