A decision by the European Commission to postpone the introduction of new limits on the level of pesticides in babyfoods sold within the EU has been condemned as short-sighted when scientific evidence suggests a need for a "fast track" approach to reducing such chemicals.
Green Party MEP Ms Nuala Ahern said the decision was also "appalling, considering that the Commission accepts there can be up to 200 different types of pesticide found in babyfood." It justified delaying plans to set maximum permissible pesticide levels on the basis of having to examine the latest advice from its scientific experts.
It is understood the Industry Commissioner, Mr Martin Bange mann, nonetheless, intends to have proposals finalised by the end of 1998 but needs more time to consider reports on the relative toxicities of the 200 pesticides. He is considering whether a single maximum level is justified with all the pesticides, and evaluating the views of the EU scientific committee on foodstuffs on this.
The German government has imposed a single maximum residue level of 0.01 milligrams of pesticide per kilogram of babyfood.
Opponents claim this would lead to products being outlawed and force farmers to adopt pesticide-free/organic farming, when such limits should apply only to the most toxic chemicals.
The scientific committee has accepted there is a case for reassessing pesticide risk in some cases, but believed that with others, levels above 0.01 milligrams did not necessarily imply a risk to health. Ms Ahern claimed, however, that the Commission, "hiding behind a smokescreen of further reports and assessments, is putting the health of infants at risk; flouting the precautionary principle and failing to act on proposals from the European Parliament".
The parliament had called for measures to ensure pesticide-free foods for children. "This was achieved despite differences between member-states, with some such as Germany having very strict standards and others with lower standards," Ms Ahern said. It was passed, she added, because there was increasing acceptance that chemicals and pesticides were having a detrimental effect on people's health and the environment.
Babyfood companies had acknowledged this also, she claimed, and in recent years had been sourcing organic cereals in an effort to reduce pesticide levels in their products. The recent Aarhus Agreement also indicated the tide was turning against toxic chemicals, Ms Ahern believed.
A recent report by the Environmental Working Group in the US, she said, had underlined the risks and found that for infants aged between six and 12 months commercial babyfood could be a significant source of organophosphate insecticides.
