FRANCE : Ecophyto II Plan public consultation

Published by Émilie Vianay at 10 June 2015

The draft of Ecophyto II Plan is in public consultation from 8 to 29 June 2015.

Lynxee consulting read for you the draft plan and offers this summary containing highlights.

The draft of Ecophyto II Plan is organised around six themes:

Theme 1 – Acting now and changing practices

Theme 2 – Improving knowledge and tools for tomorrow and encouraging research and innovation

Theme 3 – Assessing and controlling risks and impacts

Theme 4 – Accelerating the transition to zero pesticides in gardens, amenity areas and infrastructure

Theme 5 – Public policies, territories and sectors

Theme 6 – Communicating and implementing a simplified governance

To remember:

The objective of 50% reduction in the use of plant protection products in France in ten years is reaffirmed, with a two-stage approach. First, in 2020, a reduction of 25% is targeted by the generalisation and optimisation of techniques currently available. Then, a 50% reduction by 2025.
A test of certificates for plant protection products savings (certificats d’économies de produits phytopharmaceutiques (CEPP)) will be established in France for 5 years from 1 January 2016. It will contribute to the dissemination and wide sharing of techniques for reducing the use of plant protection products.
For biocontrol products, the support for applications for approval will be strengthened for innovative applications. More generally, support for investment may be granted in order to promote the emergence of innovative French companies in the field of biocontrol.
The French authorities will ensure better consideration of biocontrol solutions within the framework of European regulation, including working on guidance documents on micro-organisms, pheromones and biopesticides.
The list of biocontrol products still authorised for use after the deadlines of the law “Labbé” will be established before 1 January 2016, circulated widely and regularly updated.
Home and garden products will not be accessible self-service (and online) from 1 January 2018, but only through a salesperson certified and having knowledge in IPM. Biocontrol products will not be affected by this measure.
The Plant Health Report (Bulletin de Santé du Végétal) will be complemented by the presentation of alternative methods and prophylactic measures.
A Plant protection products monitoring Plan (“Phytopharmacovigilance”) will be implemented by Anses. Its purpose is the monitoring of adverse effects of plant protection products on humans, on livestock, including honeybees, on crops, on biodiversity, on wildlife, on water and soil, on air quality and on foods, and on the emergence of resistance to these products and alert the relevant authorities when adverse effects seem to require special management measures.
The analysis of monitoring data may lead, if necessary, to amend or withdraw authorisations of approval of plant protection products, to propose specific management measures, or to change guidelines for the assessment of plant protection products in compliance with European regulations.
The Plant protection products monitoring Plan will receive ad hoc funding taken from the turnover of plant protection products distributors.
A proactive action of awareness will be conducted by France to the other Member-States of the European Union and the European Commissioners for their share the need to strengthen restrictions on use and remove as soon as possible products containing substances for which hazards to human health or biodiversity (including CMR, glyphosate, endocrine disruptors, neonitocotinoids) are known or strongly suspected.
The terms of issue of plant protection products authorisations will be reviewed so that approvals incorporate differentiated doses depending on growth stage.
A guidance document on IPM will be developed with the support of technical institutes with a view to reduction and improvement of the use of plant protection products.