MEPs call for more transparency in pesticides assessment

The European Parliament’s special committee on pesticides has concluded its work by calling for assessment to be more transparent, independent and better resourced.

The PEST Committee approved its final report on the EU’s authorisation procedures on 6 December by 23 votes to five.

The report calls on the EU to ensure that there is enough funding for independent research on pesticides and their wider effects, and to make the results of pesticide safety studies openly available. It criticised procedures that allow companies to nominate their preferred national regulator, saying that this lacks transparency and risks conflicts of interest.