John,

Good news: Brussels will allow only low-risk pesticides after 2030 – the tiny Brussels Region that is.

Brussels’ ban comes from an obligation that all EU governments have had for years to cut pesticides and protect vulnerable groups like children and pregnant women in particular.

The European Commission hasn’t blocked Brussels’ ban – but it’s also not doing enough to ensure millions more people can enjoy safer air, water and food.

That’s why we’re building a huge grassroots coalition to pressure the incoming Commissioners before they're approved by the European Parliament and their plans are announced. Join quick and spread the word:

Tell the European Commission to follow the Brussels Region’s lead, and ensure the EU goes pesticide-free.

We've got to counter the corporate lobby NOW.

Polls show that people everywhere are concerned about the health impacts of pesticides – and rightly so. Hormone-disrupting and cancer-linked pesticides are still widely used in the EU. What's more, Europe is the world’s No.1 exporter of pesticides too.

The European Commission’s own official polling, the “EU Barometer”, shows that 84% of EU citizens are worried about harmful chemicals. And the same percentage agrees EU legislation is needed to protect the environment.

Still, a powerful coalition of reactionary politicians and industry lobbyists want the European Commission to abandon the Green Deal’s goals, and to keep farming hooked on conventional pesticides. 

The EU had aimed to halve the use of synthetic chemicals in farming by 2030 as part of its Green Deal, but Ursula von der Leyen gave in at the end of her previous mandate, saying it was a "symbol of polarisation."

There's no time to waste -- the European elections are behind us, and Brussels is getting back to work. 

Add your name: Ensure the EU is free of synthetic pesticides by 2035.

Bayer and other chemical companies have cut thousands of jobs this year. And judging from Bayer’s share price (-68%) since its merger with Monsanto in 2018, it looks like the company can’t even do capitalism right. That said – Bayer’s still a beast at lobbying.

Let’s take inspiration from the Brussels Region’s example, and push EU leaders for more.