EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTEuropean ministers leave the door open for some countries to apply it in their markets.
The European Union (EU) will not include the principle of “zero tolerance” for pesticide residues in the European regulation on organic farming that is being prepared, as agreed by the representatives of the 28 at a meeting in Riga.

The Latvian Minister of Agriculture, Janis Duklavs, host of an informal meeting held in Riga within the framework of Latvia's rotating semester in the EU, explained that finally it has been ruled out to include this point in the regulations, although a definitive text has not been finalized.

Duklavs stated that, according to the compromise proposal, the countries with that “zero tolerance” They will be able to apply this clause in their national markets, although higher thresholds will be accepted for imports from other member states or third countries.

A standard of “zero tolerance” general would imply that agricultural products that present traces of pesticides would be automatically discarded from the certificate “organic”, a measure questioned by several countries, who argued that crops may be slightly contaminated by products used in nearby non-organic farms.

The ministers analyzed in Riga a draft of the new community regulation that should be approved by the Council of Agriculture Ministers that will formally meet next 16 June, although a meeting will be held before, the 5 June, to close the commitment on pesticide residues.

This has been from the beginning one of the main points of disagreement in the new regulation, which before coming into force must receive the approval of the European Parliament, the European Council and the European Commission.

According to the Latvian minister, the possible formal agreement on this regulation at the Agriculture Council next 16 June “will be a new step”, although the dialogue between the three community institutions “it won't be easy”.

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Phil Hogan, explained that “various issues were discussed, including thresholds (of pesticides), but they didn't close”, although it can already be predicted how they will end up taking shape.. “The 16 June will be a step, but a good step”, Hogan stressed..

If the Agriculture Council gives the green light to the text of the new organic farming regulation, the rotating presidency of the EU held by Latvia will have fulfilled one of its commitments, although the final approval is delayed after months. Hogan underlined the importance of this work when recalling the rise of organic agriculture in the EU, with an annual growth of 9%.

Spain is the community country with the largest area dedicated to this type of crops, 1,8 million hectares, followed by Italy (1,1 million), Germany (1 million) and France (970.000 hectares).