Skip to main content
Disciplines
Automotive Business IT + Informatics Construction + Real Estate Electrical Engineering + Electronics Energy + Sustainability Insurance + Risk Finance + Banking Management + Leadership Marketing + Sales Mechanical Engineering + Materials
Events
DE
EN
Books
Journals
Topic Page
Marketing
Start single access now
Access for companies
EXTENDED SEARCH
Log in
Top

2017 | Book

Setting the Context: A Short History of Technology, Toxicology and Global Politics of Pesticides Read chapter Read first chapter

Pesticide Policy and Politics in the European Union

Regulatory Assessment, Implementation and Enforcement

Author: Emanuela Bozzini

Publisher: Springer International Publishing

Part of: Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" , Springer Professional "Technik" , Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

Login to get access
insite
SEARCH

About this book

This book explores the regulation of pesticides in the European Union in order to reveal the complex, controversial, and contested nature of an assessment system proudly declared by the EU to be ‘the strictest in the world’. The current regulatory framework is based on Regulation 1107/2009, which substantially reformed the previous system. The analysis describes the new criteria and procedures for the authorization of active substances to be used in the production of pesticides, traces the lengthy policy formulation process, and identifies factors that made policy change possible. Further, the book illustrates the current controversies that characterise the implementation of Regulation 1107/2009: the ban of pesticides harmful to pollinators, the renewal of the authorization of glyphosate, and the definition of criteria for the assessment of endocrine disruption. The author provides information on policy outcomes and highlights persisting shortcomings in the enforcement of EU regulation. This book will appeal to students and scholars from a variety of disciplines, including political science, political sociology, and public policy.

Table of Contents

Frontmatter
1. Setting the Context: A Short History of Technology, Toxicology and Global Politics of Pesticides
Abstract
This chapter provides a short introduction to the technological developments, and describes the importance of agrochemicals for contemporary farming. The use of pesticides constitutes a standard practice, since they are considered essential to guarantee food security. At the same time pesticides raise strong concerns about food safety. The chapter traces developments in toxicology and shows that pesticides have become the subject of numerous testing and controls. It then introduces regulatory issues by highlighting the most important global treaties. Finally, the chapter shows the stringency of European Union (EU) provisions for authorisation of pesticides and tolerance of residues on food in comparison to other jurisdictions, paying specific attention to the USA.
Emanuela Bozzini
2. EU Pesticide Regulation: Principles and Procedures
Abstract
This chapter examines the normative principles and procedural norms that inform EU regulatory action on pesticides. Regulation is characterised by a peculiar combination of five principles for risk assessment and management: hazard identification, precaution, substitution, sustainability and mutual recognition. The chapter shows that, taken together, these five principles provide for a regulatory regime that is clearly distinct from other analogous regimes for pesticides in force in non-EU countries. Further, the combination of strong versions of the five principles makes pesticide regulation distinctive in the context of the more general EU provisions for the regulation of chemicals. As for procedures, implementing decisions on approvals of active substances are taken in a rather insulated arena, which is structured around a strict separation of risk assessment and management.
Emanuela Bozzini
3. Policy Changes in EU’s Regulation of Pesticides
Abstract
This chapter describes the policy processes that led to the adoption of EU pesticides regulations, focusing specifically on the procedure for the approval of active substances as provided by Regulation 1107/2009. This regulation repealed Directive 414/1991 and introduced radical changes in criteria and procedures, like the shift from risk to hazard assessment. Innovations proved very controversial, to the point that the policy formulation stage of Regulation 1107/2009 went on for almost a decade. On the basis of documentary analysis and interviews with Brussels-based policy-makers and lobbyists, the chapter highlights alliances and strategies of the competing policy entrepreneurs that got involved in the policy debates and provides an explanation for the adoption of a piece of legislation that even environmental NGOs called ‘historic’.
Emanuela Bozzini
4. Open Controversies: Bees’ Health, Glyphosate and Endocrine Disruption
Abstract
This chapter focuses on three issues that proved particularly controversial in the last 10 years and required sustained debates among policy-makers, scientists and activists. The three controversies are: the precautionary ban of neonicotinoids for their adverse effects on pollinators; the debate over the re-authorisation of glyphosate, a chemical that has been declared both a ‘probable carcinogen’ by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and ‘safe’ by European authorities; the definition of criteria for the assessment of endocrine disrupting properties of pesticides. Overall, the analysis of these controversies provides useful insights into the broader issue of the use of precautionary principle and sheds light on ongoing trade-offs in the EU system of risk regulation.
Emanuela Bozzini
5. The First Years of Enforcement: A Success Story?
Abstract
This chapter sheds light on developments during the first years of enforcement, assessing the problematic transition towards the reformed system and providing an evaluation of how the new criteria for approval have been translated into practice. It shows that delays in assessments and national derogations to EU decisions mitigate the radical character of the reformed regulatory regime. Further, the chapter illustrates that delays in monitoring activities make it difficult to evaluate policy outcomes on the ground. The chapter discusses main shortcomings, focusing on divisions among Member States in comitology and the deficiencies in risk communication activities. The final section briefly describes the current debate on the future reform of EU pesticides regulation.
Emanuela Bozzini
Backmatter
Metadata
Title
Pesticide Policy and Politics in the European Union
Author
Emanuela Bozzini
Copyright Year
2017
Electronic ISBN
978-3-319-52736-9
Print ISBN
978-3-319-52735-2
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-52736-9

Premium Partner

    Image Credits