EU lawmakers restrict pesticide use

BRUSSELS, Jan. 13 (UPI) -- The European Parliament has voted to ban the use of 22 chemicals and tighten rules on pesticide use, officials said.

The rules, which would ban substances that can cause cancer or that can harm human reproduction or hormones, still must be approved by the European Union's 27 member-states' governments, BBC reported Tuesday.

Critics say the law would "seriously threaten" food production. The National Farmers' Union in Britain has warned the rules could wipe out the carrot industry and seriously affect many other crops.

The new rules would also restrict or ban the use of pesticides near schools, parks or hospitals. Buffer zones would be required to protect aquatic environments and drinking water supplies, the British network reported.

"The vast majority of farmers don't use these chemicals on a regular basis anyway and those few farmers who do use them can find alternatives," said Peter Melchett, president of the Soil Association.

Still, National Farmers' Union deputy president Meurig Raymond said farmers "could be facing a difficult future with our agriculture and food production seriously threatened."