The Dutch ban on the use of pesticides in lily cultivation near residents should inspire the Flemish pesticide plan, say Bond Beter Leefmilieu, Dryade, Natuurpunt, Velt and WWF.
Yesterday the court of North Netherlands decided to impose a ban on the use of pesticides in lily cultivation near residents in Drenthe. This ruling came after neighbours of a lily grower went to court due to concerns about health risks. The judge ruled that the lily grower must stop using pesticides. He stated that, despite the efforts of the farmer in question, the potential significant risk to the health of residents is more important than the higher profitability of lily cultivation. The court relies on the precautionary principle and studies on the link between pesticides and serious neurological conditions, such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and ALS.
“It is a landmark precedent that a judge prohibits a grower from spraying pesticides that are recognised by the government,” says Geert Gommers of Velt. “He implicitly confirms that the policy of the Dutch government falls short in accurately protecting rural residents.”
The Dutch Municipal Health Service and the Belgian government currently recommend keeping children and animals away from any plot that has just been treated with pesticides for several hours. “This is far from a structural solution. A recent study by UNICEF shows that 9% of Belgian youth live in an area with a high risk of pesticide contamination. This puts Belgium in a worse position than the Netherlands,” states Dries Verhaeghe from Dryade.
Meanwhile, the Flemish government is finalising the Flemish pesticide plan, which is already six months behind schedule. This plan aims to reduce the risks of pesticides to health and the environment. Earlier this year five environmental organisations sued the Flemish government because the current pesticide plan does not do this adequately. “This ruling underscores our plea to place the precautionary principle at the centre and to address the health issues related to pesticides more strongly in the Flemish pesticide plan. In our lawsuit, we are asking, among other things, for a pesticide-free zone around houses, nurseries, schools, and care homes. This buffer proves necessary to sufficiently protect vulnerable groups, such as children and the elderly,” states Heleen De Smet from Bond Beter Leefmilieu.