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EU threat to drinks industry

By Adam Docherty

THE Scottish drinks industry is facing a crisis because of a new ban on pesticides being proposed by Brussels. 

Producers of beer, white spirits and even whisky maltsters may have to import barley, wheat and other cereals from France and Spain, where the proposals would have little impact on farm output.

The EU is proposing to prevent the use of a number of pesticides on health grounds. 

In the new directive a number of products would be eliminated because they’re alleged to be cancer-causing, although there is no substantive scientific evidence. 

Draconian

Scottish Conservative Euro MP Struan Stevenson, a member of the European Parliament’s agriculture committee, warned, “The effects of such a ban are wide ranging. 
“The banning of products like triazoles, which are used to control diseases in wheat, barley and other cereal crops, could see losses of 20-30 per cent in yields.” 

Last week the EU Council of Agriculture Ministers voted by a qualified majority — with the UK abstaining — to adopt the proposals. 

The draft regulation will now go before the European Parliament which has proposed even more draconian measures that could lead to up to 90 per cent of common fungicides being taken off the market.

“Farmers in Scotland spray triazoles on barley to combat diseases like rhynchosporium, net blotch, eyespot and mildew which can dramatically reduce crop yields and quality,” Mr Stevenson continued. 

Essential

“Because of our wet conditions these fungicides are essential for healthy crops which in turn are key ingredients for the drinks industry. 

“France, Spain, Italy and other countries who voted in favour of this ban did so because in their hot and dry climates, triazoles are not necessary.” 

The Pesticides Safety Directorate has said the proposals would be disastrous for UK crop production. 

Mr Stevenson added, “The Greens intend that within five years we’ll have completely banned 92 per cent of insecticides, 77 to 82 per cent of fungicides and 90 to 91 per cent of herbicides. The folly of such proposals, at a time of rising food prices, is clear.” 

A spokesman for the Scotch Whisky Association said, “It’s just a draft regulation at the moment but we’ll certainly be working hard over coming months to try to ensure that a commonsense solution prevails.”

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