Ireland's Oireachtas Committee Raises Concerns over SUR: Calls for Impact Assessment and More Support for Farmers

The Sustainable Use of Pesticides Regulation (SUR), part of the ambitious EU Green Deal, seeks to reduce the use of chemical pesticides by a whopping 50% over the next 7 years, as well as promote the use of low-risk alternatives and integrated pest management.  The proposal has proved highly controversial, however, with concerns being raised by various stakeholders about its potential impact on farmers, food security, and the environment.

Ireland is the latest to express discontent with the SUR proposal in its current state. Last week, the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine of Ireland submitted an opinion to the Council, expressing their concerns about the impact of the proposal on Ireland and other Member States. The Committee's opinion adds to the growing list of apprehensions raised by stakeholders across the political spectrum about the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Regulation (SUR).

Though the Committee agrees with the goal of achieving safe and sustainable food production while safeguarding ecosystems, they have raised concerns about the lack of a detailed impact assessment and the need for flexibility in setting national targets to accommodate individual circumstances of Member States.

The Committee also expressed concerns about the administrative burden on Member States in setting crop-specific rules and the broad definition of sensitive areas, which may have negative implications for Ireland and other Member States. The definition of 'sensitive area' provided under Article 3 (16) of the proposal covers Natura 2000 sites and designated areas, which are used for agricultural activities such as livestock grazing.

In addition, the Committee has requested that additional EU funding be provided to compensate farmers for the costs that may arise from the requirements of the proposal. They believe that as CAP 2023 – 2027 has commenced and Members States' CAP Strategic Plans have been approved without this proposal being taken into account, additional funding is necessary.

These latest concerns raised by the Oireachtas Joint Committee echo those submitted by MEP Clara Aguilera (S&D). Aguilera also raised concerns about the lack of a proper impact assessment, the impact on small farmers, and the need for more support and investment in alternative solutions in a working document published earlier this month.

These concerns may demonstrate the need for a more thorough assessment of the impact of the SUR proposal. While the goal of achieving safe and sustainable food production is essential, it is equally important to ensure that the proposal does not have any negative implications for farmers, ecosystems, or food security.