An online report by the think tank UK Trade Policy Observatory (UKTPO) claims that, contrary to political assurances, the process of transferring European pesticide legislation into UK rules ahead of Brexit could change the way in which plant protection products (PPPs) are defined and approved, and is ‘not just a technical exercise.’
The authors claim that while the EU’s approach relies upon a series of checks and balances performed by different bodies, three Statutory Instruments (Sis) laid before Parliament so far replace these checks and balances with powers for ‘competent authorities from the national territories’ to undertake all the functions outlined above. The new competent authorities “consist of the Secretary of State (England), Ministers in Scotland and Wales, and a relevant body in Northern Ireland. These UK Ministers, or the Secretary of State alone with their consent, can amend, revoke, make regulations and issue guidance on implementation processes for UK regulations,” say the authors.
They continue, “While existing lists of PPPs and MRLs in effect immediately before exit day are to be retained, careful review of the Annexes to the EU Regulations reveals a substantive change to EU rules prohibiting pesticides containing Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs)… While existing lists of PPPs and MRLs in effect immediately before exit day are to be retained, careful review of the Annexes to the EU Regulations reveals a substantive change to EU rules prohibiting pesticides containing Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs).”
Photo caption: Researchers claim Brexit could see major changes to UK pesticide regulation
Photo Credit: pxhere