Dear President von der Leyen,
Pesticide Action Network (PAN Europe) asks the European Commission to stick to its ambitions and timetable in the context of the revision of the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive (SUD).
On 24 May, PAN Europe published a report highlighting an increase of more than 50% in the presence of the most hazardous pesticides in fruits grown in the EU between 2011 and 2019, whereas these substances ought to be phased out over the same period. These findings show that Member States failed to meet their legal obligation under the Pesticide Regulation to substitute these most hazardous substances with safer alternatives for human health and environment. This inaction has strengthened the reliance of the EU agricultural system on the most hazardous pesticides, as well as increased citizens' exposure to them.