From The Editor
At last there has been some recognition that some
of the issues facing farmers must only be tackled
at EU level. Farm ministers will present a united
position representing all UK farmers at the emergency
meeting in Brussels to take place on 7 September.
»»As the controversy
surrounding the use of
currently banned neonicotinoid
pesticides rages on, it is clear
that agreement between all
the interested parties on such
issues will never be reached.
Both sides produce “scientific
evidence” that backs their
opposing claims.
As this issue went to press,
Friends of the Earth (FoE) has
taken the first formal legal steps
over the Government’s decision
to permit the use of pesticides
in England. The group has
written a judicial review preaction letter to Secretary of
State for the Environment, Liz
Truss MP, as the prospective
defendant. The action followed
when Defra and the Health and
Safety Executive (HSE) failed to
supply FoE with information on
the criteria and process