Biopesticides face obstacles in EU

LONDON, Oct. 9 (UPI) -- A study suggests Britain has been slow to embrace biopesticides over conventional pesticides because of the way regulations are structured.

Biopesticides as naturally occurring fungi, bacteria or viruses that are used to to fight insect pests without leaving behind toxic residues, the Economic & Social Research Council said Wednesday in a news release.

Lead researcher Wyn Grant of the University of Warwick said the regulatory system in Britain was developed with chemical pesticides in mind. It is also difficult for small companies to navigate regulations in EU member states.

"The absence of a Europe-wide market for biopesticides is a significant obstacle to their wider commercial availability," the report said. Researchers said interaction between regulators and retailers must be improved and the involvement of environmental groups must be increased.