Dear Minister Clarinval,
Dear Minister Khattabi,
Dear Minister Vandenbroucke,
Ahead of the start of the Belgian presidency of the Council of Europe, we, 27 Belgian organisations, are writing you to ask you to ensure that the important provisions of the Sustainable Use of Plant Protection Products Regulation (SUR) proposal are maintained, in order to protect the health of citizens and the environment, while ensuring a transition of EU agriculture towards sustainable and resilient practices. The SUR proposal is essential for reducing the use and risk of pesticides in the EU. The impacts of pesticides represent major social costs, linked to health problems, loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services (pollination, natural pest control, etc.), water and soil pollution and negative consequences for the long-term profitability and sustainability of agriculture. All citizens are at risk of negative health effects linked to pesticide exposure, with farmers and farmworkers, children, the unborn, pregnant women, the elderly and citizens with health problems being particularly vulnerable. It is an important task of governments to protect citizens, biodiversity, ecosystems and ecosystem services from the harmful impacts of pesticides. An effective, meaningful SUR is urgent to address these serious challenges and ensure a transition to sustainable and robust agricultural systems.