EU bans Carbendazim

The European Commission’s Health and Food Safety Directorate-General (DG SANCO) and its Standing Committee on Pesticides have banned the fungicide Carbendazim, a chemical widely used to control plant diseases in cereals and fruits, including citrus, bananas, strawberries and pineapples. A decision was taken last week after a qualified majority of member states supported the Commission’s proposal for a ban. The pan-European Pesticide Action Network (PAN-Europe) welcomed the move, pointing to serious “adverse effects” the chemical has on male reproductive systems.…