Hiltrud Breyer, the Green MEP in charge of the report, has faced criticism from a number of angles for re-tabling a large number of destructive amendments that were voted through in Plenary but not accepted into the Council Common Position.
During the discussion Breyer and the Commission criticised the PSD study on the impact of the proposed 'cut off' criteria saying the report was not accurate and was designed to create unjustified panic amongst MEPs!
A study conducted by Wageningen University on the cut-off criteria proposed by the Council and the Parliament was published last week.
The study concludes that the proposals will have a significant impact on production of horticultural crops in the Netherlands.
The research indicates that loss of active substances as a result cut offs proposed by the Parliament will mean that crops such as cucumbers, Brussels sprouts, seed onions and tulip bulbs will no longer be able to be grown profitably with 'extreme' consequences for Dutch agriculture.
The Council proposals on cut off would also have serious consequences but the impact would not be as severe.
The report also warns that the long term impact of the removal of substances could be disastrous due to increased pesticide resistance, weed problems and pest populations.
The UFU continues to lobby on this issue with President Graham Furey raising the issue with MEP's in Brussels last week.

Health Check in the Parliament

The Agriculture Committee voted on over 1000 amendments to the Health Check report last week. MEPs voted to increase compulsory modulation to 7% by 2012 as opposed to the 13% proposed by the Commission.
They also agreed on an amendment that would reduce the rates of modulation on those receiving larger payments to 1% on those receiving €100-199,000, 2% for €200-299,000 and 3% for amounts above €300,000.
The Commission proposal was to modulate at 3%, 6% and 9% respectively. Worryingly the Committee also voted in an amendment that would take away the obligation for Member States to co-finance modulated funds that will be used to address new challenges such as climate change and water management.
The Committee disagrees with Commission proposals to increase milk quota by 1% each year over the next 5 years and voted to increase quota by 1% in 2009 and 2010 after which a review should be conducted on the milk market situation. They also voted to amend Commission proposals on Article 68 by increasing the amount that can be shaved off the SFP from 10 to 15%. They propose that the additional 5% could be used for insurance for a broader range of issues including animal and plant disease and climate related problems.
Even though the Parliament only has an 'opinion' on the Health Check there are high expectations that the Council will treat their views as if they have co-decision. The report will be voted on by all MEPs in Plenary in November.