NFU lobbied minister to increase amount of pesticides allowed in drinking water
The Guardian|May 11, 2024
The National Farmers' Union lobbied to increase the amount of pesticides allowed in the UK's drinking water and to allow farmers to spread manure more frequently as part of a post-Brexit loosening of environmental regulations, it can be revealed.
Helena Horton
NFU lobbied minister to increase amount of pesticides allowed in drinking water

Nick von Westenholz, the director of strategy for the lobby group, met Timothy Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, the Earl of Minto, who was the minister of state for regulatory reform, last year and asked him to review EU-derived environmental protections. The Guardian revealed this year that the UK's EU-derived environmental regulations were being eroded following Brexit.

According to government minutes released to Unearthed, Greenpeace's journalism arm, after a freedom of information request, Von Westenholz told Minto last July: "Thresholds for pesticide residues are tiny. Burden on farmers and water companies on the amount they have to invest in systems to meet negligible requirements."

He added: "Opposition to relaxation of standards is around the greater use of pesticides. But [there is] no evidence that increasing thresholds would do any harm."

The NFU said the comments did not mean it wanted the thresholds increased, just that it wanted them reviewed. A spokesperson said: "He explained the NFU's stated policy position, which questions whether the strict, historic limits on pesticide residues in water are based on up-to-date science.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة May 11, 2024 من The Guardian.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة May 11, 2024 من The Guardian.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.

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