Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The European Union is preparing more stringent restrictions on imported crops treated with pesticides prohibited in Europe, a draft European Commission document revealed, Reuter reported.
A draft of the European Union’s “Vision for Agriculture and Food” policy document, due to be released on Wednesday and obtained by Reuters, affirmed the EU Commission would take a more aggressive stance on imports to ensure a fair level playing field for Europe’s farmers.
The Commission will pursue, in line with international rules, a stronger alignment of production standards applied to imported products, notably on pesticides and animal welfare,
stated the draft.
The Commission will ensure that the most hazardous pesticides banned in the EU for health and environmental reasons are not allowed back into the EU through imported products.
How does Trump plan to retaliate against Europe’s food import restrictions?
U.S. President Donald Trump dismissed an earlier report of the European Union plans from the Financial Times, which mentioned unnamed EU officials as stating they would give the idea this week.
Trump stated the EU move would damage Europe, and a White House official expressed the president would stand up for American farmers. Trump declared the U.S. was sticking to its programs to enforce reciprocal tariffs.
How will Europe’s stricter pesticide rules impact American farmers?
According to experts, the European Union’s move could stop imports of U.S. soybeans and other foods ministered with pesticides not employed by European farmers. Tensions are flying high between the U.S. and the EU after Trump decided to inflict 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports from March 12 and “reciprocal” tariffs from April, as well as respective tariffs on pharmaceuticals, cars, and semiconductor chips.
The EU imposes the highest residue levels in food imports of some pesticides prohibited in the EU. Last year the European Commission proposed to keep permitting residues of the fungicide cyproconazole and the insecticide spirodiclofen in imported items, despite European Parliament lawmakers urging the thresholds be lowered to the lowest possible limitation.
