EC split over drinking water as pesticide rules are adopted

An EC Directive laying down uniform principles for the evaluation and authorisation of pesticides was finally adopted by the Agriculture Council on 24 June after almost two years' negotiations. But Ministers failed to achieve their goal of harmonising approval procedures by allowing Member States discretion to refuse authorisation of a pesticide if its concentration in water is likely to exceed EC drinking water limits. The outcome left the pesticide industry incensed, and also gives no clear pointer to how Member States will deal with the pesticide limit in drinking water when it comes up for reform.