Report from the Sub-comittee on the environment and health

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11 The sub-committee’s summary
with conclusions and
recommendations
11.1 Introduction and mandate
On 15 May 1997 <strong>the</strong> Folketing (<strong>the</strong> Danish Parliament) unanimously passed
a parliamentary resolution urging <strong>the</strong> government to appoint a committee
with independent expertise to analyse all <strong>the</strong> consequences of totally or
partially phasing out <strong>the</strong> use of pesticides in agriculture and to examine
alternative methods of preventing and controlling plant diseases, pests and
weeds.
The mandate for <strong>the</strong> <strong>Sub</strong>-committee for Environment and Health
stated that <strong>the</strong> sub-committee was to assess <strong>the</strong> environmental
consequences of a total or partial phase-out of pesticides, including <strong>the</strong>
effects on groundwater as a resource for <strong>the</strong> population and <strong>the</strong> natural
environment, surface water as a resource for flora and fauna, and <strong>the</strong>
terrestrial ecosystems in agriculture and forestry as a resource for flora
and fauna.
In its assessment of <strong>the</strong> health consequences, <strong>the</strong> sub-committee was to
include <strong>the</strong> effects of pesticides on <strong>the</strong> people using <strong>the</strong>m and <strong>the</strong> effects
of using <strong>the</strong> proposed cultivation systems. On <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r hand, <strong>the</strong> subcommittee
was not required to consider <strong>the</strong> health and environmental
aspects of <strong>the</strong> industrial production of pesticides.
In its work, <strong>the</strong> sub-committee has analysed <strong>the</strong> following scenarios in
relation to present production practice, which is characterised by a
treatment frequency index of 2.51:
• A total phase-out of pesticides (<strong>the</strong> 0-scenario). This scenario is
described as a reference situation, and <strong>the</strong> environmental and health
consequences of a total phase-out are compared with <strong>the</strong> present
situation. Here, <strong>the</strong> treatment frequency index is 0.
• Use of pesticides only for pests covered by <strong>the</strong> quarantine laws (<strong>the</strong>
0+scenario). In this scenario, pesticides would be used to comply with
specific requirements concerning purity or for controlling pests
defined in orders <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> Plant Department. Here, <strong>the</strong> treatment
frequency index is 0,05.
• Use of pesticides in crops with serious losses (<strong>the</strong> +scenario). In this
scenario, pesticides would only be used for limited areas in which
large yield losses could be expected or where production of specific
crops could not be maintained. The scenario also covers <strong>the</strong>
0+scenario’s areas. Here, <strong>the</strong> treatment frequency index is 0,50.
• Reduction of pesticide consumption to a level without yield losses
(<strong>the</strong> ++scenario). In this scenario, use would be made of all available