Low Yield Legislation & EU criteria for Endocrine Disruptors Endocrine active substances can interact
These should be differentiated from
The Commission has proposed
with the endocrine system in a temporary
Endocrine Disruptors which are natural
criteria to identify endocrine disruptors
way without causing harm
or synthetic substances that can have
which could have profound
a harmful effect by altering the
consequences for the agricultural sector,
functioning of the hormone system,
international trade and the availability
causing irreversible change or illness.
of sufficient, safe and affordable food.
FOR EXAMPLE
OR
COFFEE
SUGAR
A R E C E N T S T U DY F O C U S S E S O N
16
7
THE STUDY’S FOCUS:
AC T I V E S U B S TA N C E S
which may be captured by the EU criteria for endocrine disruptors.
RESEARCHERS A N A LY S E D T H E S I T UAT I O N I N
Industry estimates suggest as many as 50 substances could be lost, as a result the estimated impact below could be considered to be very conservative.
5
S TA P L E CROPS P OTATOE S
BA R LE Y
W HE AT
SUGAR BEE T
R A PE SEED
REPRESENTING
OF THE
EU’S L ARGEST CO U N T R I E S
M A IZE
AND
E X TR APOL ATED THE EFFEC T S
47 %
TO AN
EU LEVEL
OF
EU CROP VA LUE FR A NCE
GER M A N Y
UK
ITA LY
P OL A N D
GR A PE S
FOR THE
S TA P L E C R O P S
The potential impact of EU Criteria for Endocrine Disruptors on: YIELD
T H E R E S U LT:
Rapeseed, potatoes, sugar beets and
Wheat, barley & maize
Increased problems with resistance
grapes will be highly effected and could
would face a decrease in
for farmers due to the severe lack of alternatives
lose up to
yields of up to
which could increase dramatically over time.
31% of their yields.
7%.
EU RO PE A N ECO N O M Y
T H E R E S U LT:
Without these active substances in their toolbox, farmers
and specialty crops will be at risk.
Sugar beet will be heavily
will be hit by yield losses with additional production costs
99%
TR A DE FOR
THE E X PO R TED VO LUME FO R
were no longer
WHE AT
available, the EU’s
P OTATOE S
trade balance could be negatively affected:
x
4
BA R LE Y
net exporter
-50%
TO
net importer to fulfil its demand.
Source: http://www.ecpa.eu/reports_infographics/ broader-impact-criteria-endocrine-disrupting-properties-crop-protection
in farm revenues of up to
30%.
EU farmers would be put at a further
competitive disadvantage when compared to other global market players. MEETING THE DEMAND FOR STAPLE CROPS
GR A PE S
THE EU WOULD MOVE FROM
for maize will lead to a reduction
GROSS MARGIN REDUCTION
T H E R E S U LT:
If these substances
while the drop in market price
affected with up to
and lower quality harvests, leading to lower incomes.
THE VO LUME S IMPO R TED INTO THE EU COULD QUA DRUPLE
The economic viability of both staple
COULD H A LV E
will require imports,
will be ever more
which may be
challenging as sufficient
non-compliant with
import amounts are not
EU standards.
always readily available.
#WithOrWithout