The decision of EU Ministers of Agriculture to have certain pesticides removed from the market puts Romanian farmers at disadvantage because it would result in the marketing of products considered safer, but which are also more expensive, driving production costs significantly higher.
Alongside another three member states, Romania abstained from voting on ground that the new regulation is too harsh and will request a three to four-year transition period for the enforcement of this law.
The Council of EU Ministers of Agriculture held in Luxembourg approved a bill banning the use of at least 70 pct of the pesticides that are currently on the market, especially of those that might pose a cancer hazard.
Minister of Agriculture Dacian Ciolos said that Romania could adjust to the new requirements only if given a three to four-year transition period and said he will negotiate this aspect with representatives of the other member states.
On the other hand, farmers claim the ban on a substantial part of pesticides currently in use could have disastrous effects on Romanian agriculture.
President of the National Federation of Agriculture Producers Viorel Matei says small subsidizes and high fuel prices, to which more expensive pesticides might add now, could leave many farmers broke.
The adopted bill will go back to the European Parliament to be discussed in a plenary meeting, most probably in autumn.
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