JOINT STATEMENT Urgent need for precise public data on the use of pesticides across Europe

A coalition of 76 organisations calls for the European Union to implement a mandatory, digital, and transparent system for collecting pesticide use data. They argue that current proposals for the agriculture statistics regulation (SAIO) are insufficient, as they delay data collection until 2028 and lack necessary detail. The signatories demand that data collection begin by 2025, be mandatory, and be published by active substance, crop, and treated area to protect public health and biodiversity.

• The signatories argue that precise public data on pesticide use—including what is used, where, when, on which crops, and in what quantities—is essential to measure progress toward sustainable agriculture, enable scientific research on health and environmental harm, and allow authorities to monitor water quality and pesticide authorisations.
• The statement claims that the current EU pesticide authorisation system is failing, citing evidence of unacceptable harm to biodiversity and agricultural workers, and asserting that the system does not economically benefit farmers.
• Although farmers have been required for over 10 years to keep records of pesticide use for public authorities, these records are not systematically collected, and public access often requires lengthy legal procedures.
• The organisations criticize the proposed compromise text for the SAIO regulation, stating that the first year of data collection would be 2028, which they argue is too late to prevent irreversible damage to health and biodiversity.
• The signatories express concern that the proposed single survey in 2026 is insufficient to track progress toward the 2030 reduction targets of the Farm to Fork Strategy and that the legal text regarding data dissemination lacks certainty on whether data will be published per active substance.
• The statement demands four specific actions from negotiators: shortening the transition period for digital collection to 2025, making annual collection mandatory in the SAIO text, establishing a harmonised electronic format by January 1, 2023 (or July 2022 via implementing act), and explicitly requiring data publication by active substance, crop, and area treated.
• The organisations further request that data be collected at the regional level (NUTS3) and distinguished between organic and conventional farming, and they argue against derogations in the Commission Proposal that could limit information transmitted to Eurostat.

APA

ClientEarth (n.d.). JOINT STATEMENT Urgent need for precise public data on the use of pesticides across Europe. https://www.clientearth.org/media/gdopu5kt/30-05-final-joint-statement-saio-trilogue.pdf

Chicago

ClientEarth. JOINT STATEMENT Urgent need for precise public data on the use of pesticides across Europe. n.d. https://www.clientearth.org/media/gdopu5kt/30-05-final-joint-statement-saio-trilogue.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=ClientEarth |title=JOINT STATEMENT Urgent need for precise public data on the use of pesticides across Europe |url=https://www.clientearth.org/media/gdopu5kt/30-05-final-joint-statement-saio-trilogue.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{clientearthndjoint, author = {{ClientEarth}}, title = {{JOINT STATEMENT Urgent need for precise public data on the use of pesticides across Europe}}, publisher = {ClientEarth}, url = {https://www.clientearth.org/media/gdopu5kt/30-05-final-joint-statement-saio-trilogue.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }