The EU is delaying plans to halve the use of pesticides over fears the move could cut food production and raise prices of critical products in the bloc.
The Sustainable Use of Pesticides regulation intends to reduce the amount of chemicals deployed by 50 per cent by 2030 but an impact assessment said its implementation would likely reduce production. Russia’s war in Ukraine has increased energy costs for food producers and cut imports from those countries of grains and other products.
The European Commission, the bloc’s executive arm, made the proposal in June but the European Council, representing member states, which must approve it along with the European Parliament, is dragging its feet, according to four people with knowledge of the situation.