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CropLife Africa Middle East’s Position Paper on the EU Export Ban Initiative November 2023

Key Messages

  • Protecting human health and the environment is of utmost importance and CropLife Africa Middle East (CL AME) welcomes the European Union’s (EU) intentions and objectives behind this initiative. However, we believe the chosen policy instrument is missing the core intended objectives.
  • An EU export ban on prohibited chemicals may shift product supply to other regions, displacing the problem instead of solving it. It may also lead to an increase in use of counterfeit and illegal pesticide.
  • CL AME is willing to collaborate to enhance knowledge transfer and traceability in the supply chain through the EU’s Prior Informed Consent legislation, creating a more effective and transparent system for managing chemicals globally
  • As an industry, we take our responsibility to reduce the potential risks of pesticides use at all levels of the network, notably by promoting adoption of integrated pest management activities. To support countries in reducing their reliance on Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) over time, CropLife has also launched the Sustainable Pesticide Management Framework in Kenya and Morocco, in 2021 and 2022.
  • CL AME believes that an EU export ban of chemicals prohibited in the EU will negatively affect smallholder farmers in the Africa Middle East region, by reducing their toolbox of solutions, limiting options to combat pests and diseases, and to manage resistance, which will negatively impact food security, trade, and their livelihoods. Therefore, CLAME calls for a localized green transition in Africa, with sustainability agendas tailored to each country’s unique needs and challengs.

Context

Agriculture is a key sector in the Africa Middle East region, employing a large portion of the population and serving as a vital source of foreign exchange through the export of crops1
. However, food insecurity remains widespread due to various factors such as climate change, pests and diseases, and further exacerbated due to recent crises like COVID-19, the war in Ukraine and price inflation. Farmers, especially smallholders, are encountering difficulties in adapting to these challenges, and nearly 60% of the African continent’s population experience food insecurity2.
Considering the EU is a leader in terms of production standards, quality, worker safety, and environmental sustainability, CL AME believes3 that an EU blanket ban on certain pesticides would
worsen the situation. Removing these EU active ingredients from the market, which have undergone local safety assessments, would leave little alternatives and few modes of action available, limiting farmers’ options in combating pests and diseases, limiting resistance management options, ultimately impacting food security, trade, and the livelihoods of farmers in the Africa Middle East region. Smallholder farmers play a crucial role in food production and are highly vulnerable to these challenges, especially where removal of EU sources may escalate counterfeit and illegal trade.
Moreover, it should be taken into consideration that different regions have specific agronomic and climatic conditions that require different pesticides for effective control. Some pesticides are also used beyond agriculture for controlling pests that transmit diseases like Dengue, Malaria, and Zika.

CL AME Recommendations

1. An EU export ban of chemicals prohibited in the EU may lead to unexpected collateral damage and miss the opportunity to improve transparency in the global trade of chemicals

An EU Export Ban may result in a shift of product supply from the EU to other regions and countries, therefore displacing the problem instead of solving it. In addition, what is often overlooked is that the EU is not just a leader in terms of production standards, quality, worker safety, and environmental sustainability, but also in terms of long-term investments and well-established programs that promote the responsible and sustainable use of pesticides. A blanket ban on production could jeopardize these investments. Furthermore, most of the affected companies operating in the EU are also the ones investing in local programs to support the proper use of their products compared to other operators in the region coming from outside Europe. Additionally, such a ban could lead to an increase in the circulation and sale of counterfeit and illegal pesticides. This is a well-documented4 consequence of banning decisions, even within the EU itself. Illicit markets for counterfeit pesticides are widespread across many countries.

To ensure food and human safety while protecting the environment, and instead of imposing hazard-based regulation schemes to other regions in the world that follow FAO’s guidance on risk based assessments, EU’s efforts should be focused on supporting capacity building. It should also be focused on combating the sale of illegal products, rather than banning pesticide exports from the EU despite their registration at the point of sale. Indeed, it is important to recall that regions have different needs, and each country is best placed to assess the impacts of pesticides they decide to authorize (already thoroughly assessed during the authorization process). CL AME acknowledges the European Union (EU) as an international leader in chemical policy and supports its goal of enhancing chemical safety globally. Furthermore, prohibiting the export of products that have applications beyond crop protection, such as those used in public health for vector control in other countries, may potentially violate World Trade Organization (WTO) rules

2. To reduce the potential risks associated with pesticide use, governments and industry need to collaborate on stronger stewardship, effective use, and waste management activities

CL AME recognizes the potential of the EU and Rotterdam Convention’s Prior Informed Consent (PIC) processes to create a more effective and transparent system for managing the global chemical supply chain. These legislations already contribute to the safe use of hazardous chemicals by all stakeholders. CL AME, and our regional network, is willing to facilitate collaboration with all stakeholders to explore ways to further enhance knowledge transfer and traceability in the supply chain.
As an association, we encourage our members to take responsibility to further reduce the potential risks of pesticides use at all levels of the network. CL AME promotes the implementation of integrated pest management programs5 (e.g., the use of conventional products in combination with biological products) and we support national associations to establish both empty container and obsolete stocks management schemes. In addition, in Kenya and Morocco, the Sustainable Pesticide Management Framework (SPMF) was launched in 2021 and 2022 respectively. This is a dedicated five-year capacity-enhancement program driven by the industry to achieve a stepchange in responsible pesticide management, in line with the FAO-WHO Code of Conduct on Pesticide Management. The SPMF program combines best regulatory and stewardship practices to create an enabling environment for innovation and infrastructure that supports the responsible use of pesticides. This includes collaboration with governments on establishment of risk-based frameworks, improvement of poison information reporting centers, container management
programs, innovation and anticounterfeit activities.

3. An Africa localized green transition that takes into consideration the vital crop protection needs of farmers outside the EU

CropLife Africa Middle East calls for an Africa localized green transition, which is not only essential for agricultural development but also socio-economic progress:

  • “One size does not fit all”: sustainability agendas and objectives should be tailored to a region’s unique requirements.
  • Major trading partner green programs, such as the European Union Green Deal, should not undermine the actions and ambitions of African countries striving for inclusive and sustainable growth.
  • Every country is best placed to assess the environmental impact of pesticide use that they choose to authorize for their farmers. Pesticides are not automatically “less necessary” because they are not authorized in Europe.
  • CropLife Africa Middle East believes that the EU’s Green Deal can support Africa’s Green Transition without a blanket export ban in several ways, notably by:
  • Giving African farmers adequate and realistic transition periods;
  • Ensuring transparency and predictability, which are of the utmost importance for the whole food industry, in exporting as well as importing countries;
  • Ensuring that proposals impacting Africa are based on impact assessments conducted in/for Africa;
  • Consulting African partners more closely and regularly.

As per targets adopted at ICCM56, CL AME supports an approach according to which “by 2035, stakeholders have taken effective measures to phase out highly hazardous pesticides in agriculture where the risks have not been managed and where safer and affordable alternatives are available; and to promote transition to and make available those alternatives”.

Annex 1: CropLife Africa Middle East’s preliminary data on the impact of the EU prohibition of production of hazardous chemicals for export on key crops7 in the Africa Middle East’s region:

  • Coffee in Kenya: 72 active ingredients are registered against six main coffee pests. 33 of them are likely to be impacted as they are on the EU PIC listing. This has a 58% impact on the farmers’ toolbox. The possibility to ensure resistance is adequately managed is minimal as only one mode of action (MOA) will still be registered in the case of coffee berry borer, antestia bugs, and mites respectively, while none for the leaf miner and whiteflies.
  • Maize in Kenya: A total of 49 active ingredients (AI’s) cater for the crop protection solutions registered for 11 main pests affecting maize. Out of these, a majority of products are registered for three main pests including fall armyworm (FAW), stem borers and stored grain pests, representing 65%. The likely impact from the EU PIC listing related withdrawal will be 75% reduction in the toolbox for maize pests. There is a likelihood of resistance building up entirely on all the solutions as less than two MOAs will remain for all the pests, except in the case of FAW which has four.
  • In the case of Cote d’Ivoire, two of the AI’s, also registered in Kenya, are listed on the EU PIC listing and are likely to be affected. Unlike in the situation of Kenya, five MOAs will still be registered against FAW and may not be as affected. Maize in Ghana will also be impacted, as there are only two MOAs which is not sufficient for resistance management. If the attacks by FAW continues as experienced in the last few years, this will be a difficult pest to manage unless adequate alternatives are developed.
  • Mangoes in Senegal and Cote d’Ivoire: Mangoes are listed in several countries as main crops and exhibit a blend of local and export use respectively, with Senegal and Cote d’Ivoire leading on exports. The major pests attacking mangoes in Senegal are fruit flies and anthracnose. Currently the AI’s constituting the two registrations are not in the EU PIC list. There are also biological solutions listed in the registrations such as plant extracts. In Cote d’Ivoire, there are only four AI’s, out of which one is listed on the EU PIC list. For both countries, there will not be sufficient tools to ensure resistance management as only one MOA will still be registered to be combined with male annihilation technique, in the case of Senegal and only two for Cote d’Ivoire.
  • Tomatoes in Senegal: Three major pests; white flies, tuta absoluta and ralstonia solanacearum affect tomatoes. This is a key crop used locally. Only one a.i solution exists for ralstonia solanacearum and this is included in the EU PIC listing and likely to be restricted in EU policy is considered in decision making. There is also no Mode of Action that will still be registered.
  • Tomatoes in Morocco: In the case of Morocco, seven actives are registered for nematodes. Out of this, two are likely to be impacted due to EU PIC listing.
  • Cocoa in Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana: 11 AIs are registered to provide cover against the major pests affecting cocoa including Brown pod rot, Mirids and other drillers. Out of these, four are included in the EU PIC listing and likely to be restricted if EU policy is considered in decision making. In the case of Mirids and other drillers, there are only two MOAs that will still be registered, which are not sufficient for resistance management. In the case of Ghana, only one solution is registered for Capsid mirids. In addition, only one MOA will be registered against the pest and therefore there will not be sufficient tools for resistance management.

Source :

Author supadmin
Categories News

The African Conference on Agricultural Technologies (#ACAT2023), Nairobi, Kenya

The African Conference on Agricultural Technologies (#ACAT2023) kicked off in Nairobi, Kenya, focusing on food security, and CropLife Africa Middle East is proud to share that Emily Rees, President and CEO of CropLife International was one of the speakers.

In her address, Emily delved into the regulatory and trade policies that can advance agricultural innovation and productivity across Africa. With most African countries net food importers and 82% of Africa’s essential food imports emanating from outside the continent, the Continent must build on its agricultural potential. She highlighted measures to improve yields and reduce post-harvest losses, such as leveraging improved seed technology and crop protection solutions.

To boost intra- and inter- Continental trade, Emily mentioned non-tariff barriers, mostly sanitary and phytosanitary: ‘’if we really want to facilitate trade, we should align as much as possible with science-based, risk-assessed regulatory models that are based on international standards.”

Some of the key takeaway messages conveyed on this first day were notable:

  • The urgent requirement for African nations to invest in Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) to achieve food security across the continent ;
  • Despite the rapid advancements in STI, they have not received the necessary policy support to utilize their potential fully;
  • African countries must establish a conducive environment for research and development ;
  • Farmers in Africa have expressed the need for Biotechnology to be made available as an agricultural tool, giving them the freedom to choose based on their specific needs rather than being limited ;
  • Mr. Daniel Magondu, the leading farmer of Bt Cotton in Kenya, mentioned the difficulties they face in accessing modern technologies and other resources, hindering their productivity ;
  • Dr. Sylvester Oikeh, from the TELA Maize project at AATF, emphasized that genetically modified organisms are safe for humans and the environment, provided they have undergone regulatory systems.

CropLife Africa Middle East is fully committed to advocating for sustainable agricultural practices and the region’s responsible use of plant science technologies. We actively promote awareness of the benefits of modern plant science solutions and champion the utilization of innovation and technology to foster a more sustainable agricultural model.

Author supadmin
Categories News

CropLife AME attended ‘The Voice of Africa’ conference on food security

n October 10th, our colleague Margaux, Director of Public Affairs & Communication CropLife AME had the privilege of participating in the ‘The Voice of Africa’ conference hosted by the University Mohammed VI Polytechnic in Morocco. The event aims to amplify the African perspective on the sidelines of The World Bank Group Annual Meetings and the International Monetary Fund currently underway in Marrakech this week.

The following points were highlighted:

  • The Africa Middle East region faces significant challenges in terms of food security.
  • Since the outbreak of Covid-19, hunger has increased by 19.7% in Africa.
  • There is a pressing need to feed a growing population with limited arable land while combatting the effects of climate change.
  • In comparison to other regions, agri-inputs in Africa are disproportionately low.
  • The health of the soil plays a crucial role in ensuring food security.
  • Reducing food loss and waste is a priority.
  • Collaboration among all stakeholders, including governments, farmers, and the private sector, is essential.
  • Science, technology, and innovation should be harnessed to address these challenges.
  • Sustainability in Africa should strongly emphasize addressing the food security challenge, explicitly focusing on the affordability and quality of food.
  • The integration of artificial intelligence in agriculture shows promise in resolving existing issues.
Author supadmin
Categories News

CropLife AME team convened with the CropLife Egypt Board to address the vital topic of sustainable pesticide management

In early October, the CropLife Africa Middle East team convened with the CropLife Egypt Board to address the vital topic of sustainable pesticide management. They engaged in productive meetings with CropLife Egypt’s stewardship and regulatory committees, deliberating on ongoing and future initiatives and charting a clear path forward.

During the same week, CropLife Egypt marked a significant milestone by signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Egypt’s Central Lab of Residue Analysis of Pesticides and Heavy Metals in Food (QCAP Lab). This accomplishment underscores CropLife Egypt’s unwavering commitment to initiatives that advance sustainable agriculture, protect farmers, and ensure a safe and reliable food supply in Egypt.

Author supadmin
Categories News

CropLife AME and CropLife Egypt’s workshop on the transition towards sustainable food production in Egypt

On 3 October, CropLife Africa Middle East & CropLife Egypt co-hosted a workshop on ‘Food Security and Transition Towards Sustainable Food Production in Egypt: The Need for an African Localized Green Transition’, with actors across the food value chain.

CropLife AME was honoured to have as guest speaker Dr. Mohamed Abdel Megeed, Chairman of Agricultural Pesticide Committee (APC) Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, Egypt, who opened the workshop.

During the workshop, diverse Egyptian stakeholders, from the public and private sector involved in the food value chain, exchanged insights on tackling the mounting pressures on food production and trade in Egypt, partly attributed to the direct and indirect impacts of the EU Green Deal, while simultaneously promoting sustainable agriculture practices. Among the concerns raised by Egyptian growers, the most significant one was the constant reduction of their toolbox of viable solutions available to them; “we face difficulties as we have less and less solutions available to fight pests, and we are not provided with viable alternatives, making it more and more difficult to grow foods, therefore impacting our revenue stream and livelihoods”.

In light of these challenges, CropLife Africa Middle East noted being in favor of the EU Green Deal’s objectives; however, the implementation should be tailored to a country’s specificities. CropLife Africa Middle East calls for an Africa localized green transition while emphasizing the importance of maintaining a safe and secure supply of food which should be non-negotiable and which can be achieved by recognizing the role of plant science tools, including crop protection products and plant biotechnology, in sustainable agriculture and food safety.
Please see below for some additional key takeaway messages of the workshop:

  • To ensure food security while transitioning towards sustainable food production in Egypt, an Africa localized green transition is needed
  • More research and data are needed to fully understand the impact of sustainability policies on food security in Egypt and in the region
  • Stakeholders across the food value chain have an opportunity to voice their perspectives and contribute to the discussion
  • Public-private partnerships are essential, and CropLife Africa Middle East encourages collaboration between governments and agri-food actors to implement strong stewardship measures and ensure the safe use of pesticides
  • The industry requires a supportive environment and enabling regulatory frameworks to innovate and find suitable alternatives to conventional pesticides, such as biologicals.
Author supadmin
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