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Campaigner wins pesticide victory Campaigner wins pesticide victory
(about 1 hour later)
An environmental campaigner has won a legal victory in a long-running battle with the government over the use of pesticides. A campaigner has won a legal victory in a long-running battle with the government over the use of pesticides.
A High Court judge ruled Georgina Downs, who lives near Chichester, West Sussex, had produced "solid evidence" that residents had suffered harm.A High Court judge ruled Georgina Downs, who lives near Chichester, West Sussex, had produced "solid evidence" that residents had suffered harm.
Mr Justice Collins said the government had failed to comply with a European directive to protect rural residents. Mr Justice Collins said a European order aimed at defending rural dwellers from possible exposure to toxins during crop-spraying had not been followed.
Ms Downs said the government "should now admit that it got it wrong".Ms Downs said the government "should now admit that it got it wrong".
Ms Downs, who lives on the edge of farm fields, launched her independent UK Pesticides Campaign in 2001.Ms Downs, who lives on the edge of farm fields, launched her independent UK Pesticides Campaign in 2001.
It is difficult to see why residents should be in a worse position [than bees] Mr Justice CollinsIt is difficult to see why residents should be in a worse position [than bees] Mr Justice Collins
On Friday, the judge granted her application for judicial review of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) policy. On Friday, the judge granted her application for judicial review of the policy of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
Defra had argued that its approach to the regulation and control of pesticides was "reasonable, logical and lawful".Defra had argued that its approach to the regulation and control of pesticides was "reasonable, logical and lawful".
The judge said Miss Downs was 11 when she was first exposed to pesticide spraying and began to suffer from ill-health, with flu-like symptoms of sore throat, blistering and other problems. The judge said Ms Downs was 11 years old when she was first exposed to pesticide-spraying and began to suffer from ill-health, with flu-like symptoms of a sore throat, blistering and other problems.
She argued the government failed to address residents "who are repeatedly exposed to mixtures of pesticides and other chemicals throughout every year, and in many cases, like mine, for decades". Ms Downs argued that the government failed to cater for the needs of residents "who are repeatedly exposed to mixtures of pesticides and other chemicals throughout every year, and in many cases, like mine, for decades".
'Think again''Think again'
People were not given prior notice about what was to be sprayed near their homes and gardens, she complained. People were not given warnings about what was to be sprayed near their homes and gardens, she complained.
In his ruling, Mr Justice Collins said it was interesting to note that the 1986 Control of Pesticides Regulations stated that beekeepers must be given 48 hours' notice if pesticides harmful to bees were to be used.In his ruling, Mr Justice Collins said it was interesting to note that the 1986 Control of Pesticides Regulations stated that beekeepers must be given 48 hours' notice if pesticides harmful to bees were to be used.
"It is difficult to see why residents should be in a worse position," he said."It is difficult to see why residents should be in a worse position," he said.
Miss Downs has collected evidence of other rural residents reporting health problems including cancer, Parkinson's disease, ME and asthma which they believe could be linked to crop spraying. Defra said the protection of human health was "paramount"
The judge ruled Hilary Benn must rethink the policy on crop sprayingThe judge said "defects" in Defra's approach to pesticide safety contravene a 1991 EC Directive. Ms Downs has collected evidence from other rural residents reporting health problems including cancer, Parkinson's disease, ME and asthma which they believe could be linked to crop-spraying.
He ruled that the result of his judgment was that environment secretary Hilary Benn "must think again and consider what needs to be done". The judge said "defects" in Defra's approach to pesticide safety contravened a 1991 EC Directive.
"He must take steps to produce an adequate assessment of the risks to residents." He ruled that the result of his judgment was that Environment Secretary Hilary Benn "must think again and consider what needs to be done".
And he said the government must also "carefully reconsider" the need to inform residents of imminent spraying and of the composition of pesticides to be used. Ms Downs said she was very pleased with the ruling.
He added there was a "very strong case" for a crop spraying buffer zone.
Miss Downs said she was very pleased with the ruling, which potentially affected millions of people.
"The fact that there has never been any assessment of the risk to health for the long-term exposure for those who live, work or go to school near pesticide-sprayed fields is an absolute scandal, considering that crop-spraying has been a predominant feature of agriculture for over 50 years," she said.
"The UK government's relentless and extraordinary attempts to protect industry, as opposed to people's health, has been one of the most outrageous things to behold in the last seven years of my fight.""The UK government's relentless and extraordinary attempts to protect industry, as opposed to people's health, has been one of the most outrageous things to behold in the last seven years of my fight."
A Defra spokesperson said the protection of human health was "paramount".
"Pesticides used in this country are rigorously assessed to the same standards as the rest of the EU and use is only ever authorised after internationally approved tests," he said.