EU tightens pesticide rules, U.S. farmers face export challenges
The European Union plans to halt the import of food products containing banned pesticides, as reported by the British newspaper "Financial Times" on Sunday. The newspaper notes that Brussels is modeling its policy after that of former U.S. President Donald Trump, which could negatively impact American farmers.
The European Union is set to implement a ban on importing specific food products that contain pesticides banned within the EU. According to "Financial Times," this decision is inspired by Donald Trump's policy.
Brussels is expected to discuss this issue in the coming week. The ban could affect U.S. crops, such as soybeans, which are cultivated using pesticides not permitted in the EU.
Oliver Varhelyi, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, emphasized in an interview with "FT" last month that products banned within the Union should not be imported, even if they are legal in their countries of origin.
Pesticides under scrutiny
The EU bans the use of many pesticides, even though its health agency acknowledges that small amounts of some are considered safe for consumption.
Varhelyi stressed that carcinogens, mutagens, and substances disrupting the endocrine system should not enter the EU through imported food. An example is paraquat, a herbicide banned in the Union but used in the U.S.
According to a report by Pesticide Action Network Europe, tea and coffee are most commonly contaminated with banned pesticides. Nearly 25% of tea samples from India and 17% from China contained prohibited residues.
The European Union also plans to incorporate higher animal welfare standards in future trade agreements. Regulations concerning the amount of space for chickens and calves, as well as the cleanliness of living quarters, increase costs for farmers, as highlighted by "Financial Times."
